I'm still rosy-cheeked and puffing slightly after returning from an invigorating walk in the dusky late afternoon. Every time, as soon as I leave the house, I'm elated that I've begun my walk . I forget about the ubiquitous lists and duties still left undone. Why is it that I even waffled about going for a walk... just because it was dull outside and somewhat drizzly?
The coast was clear all the way down, down, down to the bridge along our brand new not-yet-open nature trail. Going down is fine but I must get back up too without losing too much time. I find I can do it quite easily, certainly better than the first few times. I'm thrilled.
I love walking, alone with my thoughts. This is my "resting" time, my refocusing and regrouping time. I had put a sticky on my desktop last night to remind me to "Enjoy the Sabbath Rest". Not sure just what that means but I wanted to get my mind out of gear. Too many things whirring and sloshing around in that grey matter - time to rest, to worship, to praise, to review the Christmas story according to St. Luke, committed to memory so many years ago. Ah, no mountains visible, no bunnies scurrying, only one human and his dog to exchange a greeting with along the path, nothing striking enough to capture with the camera. But I do capture this hour in my heart.
Having climbed back up the long grade, I like to finish off my walk with four laps around the track - the same track I've walked for more than two decades. No one was on the track, except in the distance I noticed the slight figure of a girl jogging along. It wasn't long before I heard the track shoes behind me. As I turned to smile and wave a greeting, I noticed how young and lithe and beautiful she was - barely a teen I thought- her lovely long hair swishing from side to side as she ran. Whizzing by me she turned and smiled as she sweetly exclaimed, "Merry Christmas"!
I don't know what happens when we become seniors but I was reduced to mush! I wept for joy that she bothered to give me that extra greeting. How beautiful! I started to weep and asked the Lord to protect her and keep her safe all her life and to bless her. I started thanking God for many things: the gift of salvation, His unfathomable and unconditional love, my terrific husband and his great heritage, my wonderful children with their equally wonderful spouses and for our seven beautiful grandchildren!! I thanked God for my heritage, my parents and ancestors.
My parents were Godly people. My father especially, was a global kind of man in many ways. He was an emotional man seeing beauty all around him. In his senior years he would be moved to tears at the sight of a flower, at the sight of Mt. Baker, the view of which he factored into two homes he had built for our family. And he was moved to tears at times by his children and grandchildren, not by frustration as perhaps in earlier years, but in recognizing the richness and fullness that children bring along with themselves.
I remember when Dad first saw pictures of Jennifer and Carlton signing their marriage certificate at their outdoor wedding ceremony more than eight years ago by now, weeping for joy at the beauty of the young couple beginning their life together, repeating over and over with deep emotion, "...you-ti-ful, you-ti-ful"! - he always omitted the "b" when he said, "beautiful".
The "trumpet sounded" for my Dad seven years ago this past week, and he left this world. He was ready. He taught me so much. His values were stellar, grounded on Godly principles - and he was constant as the North Star. His sense of humour remained in tact almost to the end of the last 92+ years God gave him here on earth.
I thank God for my Dad and the rich legacy imprinted on my life through him.
Dad loved music with a passion. He was thrilled with the rich baritone voices of Metropolitan stars from the last century such as Jerome HInes and William Warfield (especially the latter's rendition of "Old Man River") among others. Hines' performance of "The Trumpet Shall Sound" from Handel's Messiah is spectacular. Please listen - you will be blessed. You can find it at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYsls-s4GIw (copy and paste-doesn't seem to want to imbed)
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Friday, December 18, 2009
For Unto us a Child is Born
More than 2,000 years ago God sent a Gift, the perfect Gift, a Saviour in the form of a precious little baby boy! Imagine: a world-changing and life-changing gift!!*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQVQOW1c0DQ&feature=related
(copy and paste link into browser to listen to: "For Unto Us a Child is Born" from Handel's Messiah)
40 years ago today, Al and I were blessed with a life-changing event; the birth of our first child, a son- a precious Christmas gift.
Today we embrace our son and wish him a very Happy Birthday and pray God's continued blessing on him. And we embrace the love which our Lord holds out to us today and always - and to all who will accept it - with deep gratitude.**
* Christmas story taken from:
Matthew:1:18-25 and 2:1-12
Luke: 1:26-56; 2:1-20
Scripture to music from Isaiah 9:6
**Picture of Big Al with Colin taken December 17 at Nathan and Megan's school Christmas presentation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQVQOW1c0DQ&feature=related
(copy and paste link into browser to listen to: "For Unto Us a Child is Born" from Handel's Messiah)
40 years ago today, Al and I were blessed with a life-changing event; the birth of our first child, a son- a precious Christmas gift.
Today we embrace our son and wish him a very Happy Birthday and pray God's continued blessing on him. And we embrace the love which our Lord holds out to us today and always - and to all who will accept it - with deep gratitude.**
* Christmas story taken from:
Matthew:1:18-25 and 2:1-12
Luke: 1:26-56; 2:1-20
Scripture to music from Isaiah 9:6
**Picture of Big Al with Colin taken December 17 at Nathan and Megan's school Christmas presentation
Thursday, December 17, 2009
How about this?
...and just why are we so excited?
...aha...Christmas came early...what is this?
...a new iMac....wowie!
...Carlton and Daniel help with the setup and onsite tutorial...very necessary and very much appreciated...
...ahhhh...so what do I do now?....
Just turn it on and...
....this is what happened...
...my first post with my new iMac...
...Thanks to Jenn and Carlton for all the help and for guiding Big Al to the right computer!
The first and last photo were taken with the Photo Booth Application built into the computer - very handy dandy.
We all got into the act....where did Jared disappear to?
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Christmas Season
During this wonderful Advent season I am grateful for many things. Uppermost in my thoughts recently is the fact that God doesn't change. He remains strong and steady and Holy.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.(Hebrews 13:8)
God doesn't second guess Himself. He is all-knowing, He is all-wise, He is compassionate and forgiving. What a great Anchor and Foundation the Lord has laid for us - He is the foundation.
Four years ago we had the privilege of touring the Holy Land, visiting many Biblical sites. I was revisiting some of those places in my mind, as I reviewed my pictures from that time.*
In Nazareth we visited the Church of the Annunciation.
Here I was drawn to this painting of the angel Gabriel imparting the stunning news to the young virgin, Mary:
Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God...
For with God nothing shall be impossible.(from Luke 1)
We were told by our guide that each holy site is enshrined within a church built many years after the event and when rebuilt, it was always on the same site.
Here a cordoned-off section indicates the "exact" location of the specific event. The picture below shows the purported spot where the Angel Gabriel spoke to Mary.
I was wondering what it was that set Mary apart from all the other Jewish women of her day, to be chosen to become the mother of our Lord.
In Bethlehem we visited the Church of the Nativity.
What a trip that must have been for Mary and Joseph to walk or travel by donkey from Nazareth to Bethlehem - uphill all the way! Here Al is waiting his turn to descend into the grotto.
Again tradition says that the star in this picture indicates the exact spot where Jesus was born.
*With my first digital camera around my neck in tourist fashion I took lots of pictures never quite knowing if I was actually getting a picture. I hadn't taken the time to read my manual and get to know my camera properly. The picture of the painting of the Annunciation is particularly garish because of the flash. I'm still glad I got it. I was trying to locate this painting of The Annunciation among the many that have been painted by many artists but couldn't find it. Neither could I find a picture of the enclosure online, although my records show I took it in the Church of the Annunciation.
The pictures in the Church of the Nativity have been taken by thousands others I'm sure and can be found in abundance on the web along with great descriptions of the history of this church including who is responsible for the church now (what...2 different denominations?!), why the doorways were intentionally kept low. Could it be to keep marauders from galloping in on their horses and trampling this sacred place?
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.(Hebrews 13:8)
God doesn't second guess Himself. He is all-knowing, He is all-wise, He is compassionate and forgiving. What a great Anchor and Foundation the Lord has laid for us - He is the foundation.
Four years ago we had the privilege of touring the Holy Land, visiting many Biblical sites. I was revisiting some of those places in my mind, as I reviewed my pictures from that time.*
In Nazareth we visited the Church of the Annunciation.
Here I was drawn to this painting of the angel Gabriel imparting the stunning news to the young virgin, Mary:
Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God...
For with God nothing shall be impossible.(from Luke 1)
We were told by our guide that each holy site is enshrined within a church built many years after the event and when rebuilt, it was always on the same site.
Here a cordoned-off section indicates the "exact" location of the specific event. The picture below shows the purported spot where the Angel Gabriel spoke to Mary.
I was wondering what it was that set Mary apart from all the other Jewish women of her day, to be chosen to become the mother of our Lord.
In Bethlehem we visited the Church of the Nativity.
What a trip that must have been for Mary and Joseph to walk or travel by donkey from Nazareth to Bethlehem - uphill all the way! Here Al is waiting his turn to descend into the grotto.
Again tradition says that the star in this picture indicates the exact spot where Jesus was born.
*With my first digital camera around my neck in tourist fashion I took lots of pictures never quite knowing if I was actually getting a picture. I hadn't taken the time to read my manual and get to know my camera properly. The picture of the painting of the Annunciation is particularly garish because of the flash. I'm still glad I got it. I was trying to locate this painting of The Annunciation among the many that have been painted by many artists but couldn't find it. Neither could I find a picture of the enclosure online, although my records show I took it in the Church of the Annunciation.
The pictures in the Church of the Nativity have been taken by thousands others I'm sure and can be found in abundance on the web along with great descriptions of the history of this church including who is responsible for the church now (what...2 different denominations?!), why the doorways were intentionally kept low. Could it be to keep marauders from galloping in on their horses and trampling this sacred place?
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