conversations, meditations, reflections
Posts tagged family
Dream….
Feb 13th
13 February 2010
I woke up tired this morning… and about 10 am or so decided to take a short power nap… which I woke up from at noon! Yikes! Anyway, along the way I had this dream…
I dreamed I was sitting here (in my comfy spot on the couch where I was taking my nap), and I heard two women come into the room, and I heard their voices saying that I was asleep… and I immediately recognized, as clear as could be, that it was my mom and my grandma talking. So of course I was really happy they had come to visit [even though my mom has been gone already almost 2 years, and my grandma for decades], and I woke right up and opened my eyes… and they were not here, of course.
I realized I must have been dreaming about them coming in to the house, and so I was really disappointed, and I slumped down and closed my eyes and went right back to sleep.
But looking back, I guess all of it was really a dream inside a dream inside a dream! For when I supposedly woke up and looked around, “here” wasn’t quite the same as “here” actually is, and I remember I could hear a lot of voices from outside, a big crowd, and I remember thinking, “Oh, that’s all the people gathered for the Olympics!” [which are of course a couple hundred miles from here, lol!]
Street family … love it!
Feb 13th
13 February 2010
Brrr… it’s cold outside for morning street family coffee times… especially these days when it’s been really damp. But there is so much laughter and friendly conversation, and so much taking care of each other and looking out for each other’s needs… man, that is FAMILY!!! And I see it more when we gather outside in the winter weather, than inside where it’s warm and comfortable. And I like that people going by on the street, no matter who they are, rich or poor, young or old, always get invited to join us – and some of them do – and the others almost always smile and say a hearty thank-you for the invite!
Noisy neighbors, family visit, writers group, facebook, website improvements
Jan 30th
January 23, 2010
Wednesday I went home early from work, feeling sick… and I slept and slept and slept! Thursday feeling quite a bit better, though still tired and a bit wobbly.
BD came by on Thursday afternoon for coffee, and while we were trying to visit, the people next door were having a big to-do, and finally I went over and asked (gently), “Do you really want the neighbors to hear this?” The lady just looked at me and shut the door. Then Friday night there was crashing and banging and loud running up and down the stairs into the wee hours of the morning… and it has started up again early this morning. Wondering what is going on?
My daughter and her family traveled to visit for the weekend. They are staying over at my other daughter’s place here in town. At first I felt sad, because I miss them so much and was looking forward to them staying with us, but then I realized that we will of course see them a lot anyway while they are here, and it is good for the sisters to have time together, and the two little cousins (my grandsons) to have time together, and the guys to have time together (my son is over there almost non-stop, too!). Also hubby has been ill all week on his day’s off, and he had to phone in sick for the next couple days too. And then with all that noise next door, it would be really hard for the kids and my little grandson to sleep! So even though I was having a pity-party for myself, I realize now that You had it all under control, and things really are working out for good!
I went to Penticton Writers and Publishers (PWAP) group on Thursday night. We all made suggestions for group activities and goals. I suggested an email group – and right after the meeting one of the guys told me it was a great idea – so I set it up at 6 am Friday morning! And the facebook group I set up the other day, for people who attended my high school back in the day, is going well, with 21 members signed up already. Yay!
Friday morning, one of our nephew’s passed away. It was very sad. Normally I would have checked facebook when I got up, but I was busy setting up that yahoo group and getting ready for the kids coming – and so I didn’t get around to it. Finally, we received a phone call with the news from a family member – and a few minutes later I finally got around to my morning facebook check, and there it was splashed all over facebook. I was so grateful we heard it from family before seeing the comments on facebook. One young woman commented on there that for things like that, people should respect the family, and at least wait a day or so, until family members can be contacted. One girl who is a cousin of the young man who passed away actually found out on facebook, and she took it hard. Of course some of the people who posted were kind of incensed that their hasty postings weren’t taken joyfully by everyone. Hmmm…
This morning, waiting for the kids to call, I fixed up my http://penandpapermama.wordpress.com site (my “Hill gang” family story site) – it really needed it! And I added links to my sites on the new Penticton Writers email group I set up, and did a bunch of similar stuff. If I am going to be serious about getting some of my writing out there, I need to make things look “professional” eh!
Oh yes, last night we ordered take-out from Boston Pizza for all the kids and ourselves – and hubby was shocked at the price! LOL! Good thing I had lots of juice and pop on hand that I had bought early at the store on good sales; otherwise he probably would have had a heart attack at the price if we’d ordered that stuff from BP as well! ?
…. So I went over to my daughter’s place to visit everyone, and I took loads and loads of pictures of my wonderful little grandsons (they are just one month apart in age, 16 and 17 months, and great pals). I love hubby’s digital SLR camera! Then it was naptime – for babies and moms-to-be-again – so I walked home in the beautiful sunshine, and then set bread dough for buns and fry bread.
a grandson-proof TV table, lol… more autumn leaves… fun with my grandson…
Nov 7th
October 31, 2009
Yesterday went to Friday morning coffee, then browsed the Book Store, and got some computer books from the library. Another gray, damp, blustery day! Watched my little grandson in the afternoon while his mom went to an appointment. They stayed for supper. Hubby and son-in-law went to MTF and got that TV stand. It’s reasonably little-grandson-proof. He’s not too impressed – can’t get at the buttons to press them! I really DO like our new living room set up! Thank You, Papa! J Praise Your Name! After I got ready for bed, I read some in that book 1491 – What America may really have been like, pre-Columbus. Quite interesting!
Today, Saturday, after cleaning the house, I went out to the back yard again, and picked up leaves again – 3 large garbage bags full! That was a BIG job! After breakfast it was finally beautiful, sunny and actually quite warm out – September type weather! – so I went walkabout. Went to our daughter’s place and offered to take my grandson out in his stroller, and then take him home for awhile so his folks could have some time alone. They were happy to let me! So the little guy and I went to the beach. He was very excited about all the dogs that were being walked, and was very friendly to all the elderly folks – which made them very happy! Then we headed home and had fun together along the way and also when we got there.
my grandson learning to walk… the new couch finally arrives… yay!
Nov 7th
October 29, 2009
On Tuesday went to Tuesday coffee, and to work, and then home, and G came again. Then BD also came and the four of us had a great time sitting around the table visiting, and had supper together.
On Wednesday, work was crazy busy. G took hubby and I out to China Palace for buffet Chinese. Had a chat there with the guy from the archives society. Back home, my daughter and family came to visit, bringing delicious homemade cookies. My little grandson is starting to walk lots! He is so cute! He was determined to go up the stairs. He would pretend he was going to do something else, like inspect the closet, or go in the kitchen – all the time looking at us over his shoulder – and when he thought we weren’t looking (of course we were all watching with great amusement, but pretending we weren’t watching) he’d head as fast as possible for the stairs! We sure laughed!
Oh, I phoned the Rooms to Go furniture store yesterday – and they said the couch had finally arrived, but was still on the truck – so they will deliver it today.
…. Later… Thank You, Papa, for the amazing awesome umbrellas from the Wholesale store – for 94 cents each on clearance! Wow!
THE COUCH FINALLY ARRIVED THIS AFTERNOON! AWESOME! THANK YOU, LORD! WE ARE SPOILED!… Oh Papa, let it be a real HOSPITALITY couch! Thank You!
autumn leaves… hubby home… another God-incident!
Nov 7th
October 23, 2009
Yesterday after work I came home and picked up 4 bags (kitchen catcher size) of leaves in the backyard (ha! and now it’s full again – we don’t even have a tree – the leaves blow in from tall trees in the back yards of houses across the street!). P came by for coffee and to see the place in the afternoon. I wanted to go to the meeting at G’s, but hubby was coming home. They arrived about 8:45 pm.
This morning we went to Friday coffee time (yes, hubby actually came!) and then to Walmart to pick up a bookcase. While there, hubby “just happened” (NOT! Another God-incident eh!) to run into a lady from his work who told him everyone had appointments today (in seniority order) to see what shifts and/or lines they wanted, as the place has just gone union. So hubby zipped over there to find out his appointment time. Then he came home and we put the bookcase together, and then he went to his appointment – and got the same shift and line, so PRAISE THE LORD! J Thank You! While he was there, I knocked down the boxes the books and albums had been in, and tied them in bundles to recycle. Hubby took them to the bin. Nice!
I was quite tired today… kind of did everything in slow-mo! Well, I really want to go to sleep now. I love You, Lord! Thank You for loving me!
flight home from Edmonton… home!! in our very own little house!
Nov 7th
October 19, 2009
So then I flew from Calgary to Vancouver. And then from Vancouver to Penticton, getting home at 11 pm BC time (12 pm Alberta time) – a 6 hour trip through 4 airports and 3 planes, for a flight that if direct would have taken about an hour! Oh well! I got my money’s worth on the flight price anyway, lol! J My son-in-law here picked me up at the airport as my son was still at work.
I am thinking I’m going to need to dig out my journals for the summer months and get caught up to date with my blogging!
It’s good to be home and back to normal. Isn’t that awesome!!! HOME!!! Our very own little home! Thank You, Jesus!
And oh, dear Jesus, as I prayed while I was there – and as I prayed as I drifted off to sleep last night – please, please, please bring my children and grandchildren into Your forever family… PLEASE!!! Thank You!! (SOON – I hope!!! Of course – Your perfect timing and will be done!)
…. Later… So I walked to work, stopped at Monday coffee for a few minutes. After work, when I got home, I was so tired! Phone message from my hubby that my daughter and family on the Island might have swine flu! Anyway, had some lunch and then napped for 2 hours. Got out my journals back to June 15 (when I stopped blogging…).
My daughter gave me a great new journal. I need it.! This one is full!
Went through my “saved emails” file and made the items into separate files. Now it’s 7 pm and I’m ready to sleep again!
road trip to Edmonton… wonderful family time!… wonderful new grandson!… lots of picture taking!
Nov 7th
October 18, 2009
7:14 pm Alberta time. On a 2 hour stop over at Calgary airport. Am assuming my bag will be automatically switched to the next flight. Was planning to have dinner here – but the restaurants, even Tim Hortons, are closed in the waiting area.
So Thursday went well. Picked up Little Red. Got some great deals on trip snacks at MTF. Then went to Walmart and got 2 stacking shelves and an over-the-toilet metal shelf unit – which I took home and made into an over-the-computer-desk shelf unit, plus the stacking shelves for hubby’s stuff in the closet. Took pictures all through the house, to show the kids, and finished packing and did laundry.
Up early Friday morning, finished last minute packing. Lionel home from work, showered. Our daughter, grandson, and son-in-law arrived at 7:30. We drove to Kelowna, where our son-in-law picked up a rental vehicle for his work for the next week. Then he drove off to work while we headed east. We stopped at Tim Horton’s 5 different towns along the way – and Dairy Queen once! Hubby and daughter sat in the front and took turns driving, while I sat in the back seat and entertained my little grandson, who clearly thought it was an awfully long trip! I did drive into Edmonton and to my daughter’s house, as my daughter in the truck guided me by GPS. It was about 10:30 at night and really dark out (though of course street lights etc).
When we got there, our other 3 daughters were there, and our other 3 grandsons – so we had all 4 of our daughters, and all 4 of our grandsons together at once (plus the 2 little ones to come!) (and our son-in-law, daddy of the new baby!). Awesome! They have a 2 bedroom apartment, and there were 11 of us and we were sleeping all over the house, in beds, on couches, on airmattresses, on foamies! The next morning we took lots of pictures of the girls and the grandsons – and hubby and I with them too. Midafternoon, 2 of my daughters and one grandson went to the one daughter’s house south of Edmonton, and my other daughter and grandson went to the airport to go home to Vancouver Island. Hubby and I took our oldest grandson (8 years old) out to a local store to buy him a gift – he was feeling a bit left out, with his new little baby brother getting so many gifts and new clothes! This morning I woke up 7 am Alberta time, and we had a quiet morning. Early afternoon, our 2 other daughters and grandson came back, and then our son-in-law’s grandparents came to see the new baby. My daughter who is a hairdresser dyed my hair! Then my son-in-law drove me to the airport, leaving their place about 4 pm. The flight from Edmonton to Calgary was uneventful…
getting ready to go visit our grandson!… so many blessings… and peace in the troubles…
Nov 7th
Oct 14, 2009
The caulking looks good… I’ve asked Father to please take care of it, keep it well sealed so we don’t have more leaks! Please!
It just struck me a few minutes ago that it’s already Wednesday, and we leave early Friday morning, right after hubby gets home from work, to go to Edmonton! Hocus pick! Oh Father! Please take care of all the arrangements, including someone to cover to him while he’s gone. Thank You! J
Please take care of that beautiful baby, our new grandson! And all our children, their spouses, and our grandchildren – including the two new ones who are on the way! Oh dear God, please bring them all to Yourself! In Jesus’ name, Amen! Thank You!
I actually have time for Your Word now, before going to work. Yay!
Deuteronomy 33:26 “There is none like the God of Jeshurun (Israel), Who rides the heavens to your help, and through the skies in His majesty. 27. The eternal God is a dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms….”
Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit – My LORD and my God! You have blessed me (us!) so incredibly abundantly in these past days (and months and years!). I keep thinking, “Wow! This must have an end… How can such blessings go on and one?!?” And I sometimes wonder, “Am I being set up for something?” But at the same time, I think that things do happen (like the tub caulking and the car breakdowns and such-like)… but You have taught me to have peace, and just deal with them as they come, trusting You to work them out, not panicking (well, sometimes I still do panic, like with the cell phone battery thing!)…. But You really have taught me to trust in You, day by day, moment by moment… thank You!
Psalm 130:3 “If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O LORD, who could stand? 4. But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared. 5. I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait, and in His word do I hope. 6. My soul waits for the Lord more than the watchman for the morning… 7. O Israel, hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is lovingkindness, and with Him is abundant redemption. 8. And He will redeem Israel from all His iniquities.
… later… so I went to work – quiet day. Did some walkabout, then home, and did some stuff on my to-do list. In the evening I made a new phone list and posted it. Boy did I need a new list. So many changes and additions handwritten on the old list – what a mess!
renting a moving truck… buying a fridge!
Nov 7th
Sept 30, 2009
Hubby and I worked some more on the driveway grease this afternoon. The CLR stuff works well! Oh! And the realtor phoned and said we can get the keys tomorrow morning! I am excited!!!
Then we went and checked out the auction place – some pieces we’d love to have! Then to Budget to rent a truck for Monday. Then to Penticton Appliance to get a fridge – to be delivered on Tuesday. Then to the hardware store to get a brush head, since we wore out the other one on the driveway!
