After the storm

This past week has been a week of storms. I've driven through fog, lightening, snow, freezing rain, wind...you name it, we've had it this week. As I head out for my nightly drive through the country, I am sure to have my stash of emergency supplies with me. A shovel, boots, kitty litter, salt, blanket, candles, lighter....and one more very, very important item - my camera! Last night was no exception to the recent weather events. I drove through freezing rain and snow, thinking that just may-be on the drive home in the morning, I might be able to take a good picture. So this morning, after working 2 hours overtime until my colleague could get pulled out of the ditch and to work, I headed home. But I took a detour on Mt Olivet Road. There I came across this winter scene. There is always something beautiful after the storm.

Grandma Moved....again!

Jan 20 was Grandma's 100th birthday. Her health had been declining steadily and it was hard to know how to plan a birthday celebration. After much debate, it was decided that despite the fact that she might not be able to participate in the festivities, that we were going to acknowledge this very special milestone with a cake, some flowers, and candles, all featuring the colour pink, as that was her favourite colour.

However things took a decidedly different turn. As we arrived with cake and decorations in hand, we were greeted with the news, that after a few hours which decidedly proclaimed her a centenarian, she left us here, holding the cake so to speak, and went to her heavenly home where she could truly celebrate in vibrant health, with perfect eyesight and hearing, with Jesus, the angels, and her many friends and loved ones who are already enjoying life in the land where we'll never grow old.

Happy Birthday, Grandma!

Grandma Moved!

Grandma Heise will be 100 in January. She is my mother's step mother having married Grandpa over 40 years ago. Yesterday she moved from the Retirement area, Southview, into Gardenview, the Long Term area of Parkview Meadows. Now we truly have a family affair. I work full-time as charge nurse on the night shift. Mom has been a resident there for almost 2 years and now Grandma has joined. Life has become quite hard for Grandma. Her eyesight has dimmed significantly, her hearing is extremely dull, and there is now increased difficulty with her thinking. However, she is in a good place, with many wonderful caregivers around her. I am blessed to be able to be there as well to help her in this final part of her journey.

Remembering....

Today I am remembering my beloved sister, Phyllis who left us and went to heaven 5 years ago. I still miss her so much. There are many others who also miss her and have had to learn how to live without her. She filled so many roles for so many people. She was wife, mother, sister, daughter, aunt, friend, joker, listener, counsellor, confidante, always ready to talk, shop, quilt, sew, discuss ideas, give advice, laugh, cook, bake, read, joke around, pray, make a new friend.

I think of some of the changes over the past 5 years. One new thing is Facebook. She would have loved reconnecting and deepening connections with many old and new friends. Other changes are the new extended family members who have either been born or entered the family through marriage. She would have been able to watch the young mature and the elderly get older.

Yes, it is true that time has passed and there have been many changes since Phyl left. But I believe we all can agree that knowing and being in relationship with her has made a great impact upon us. We will never forget her.

Busy Week

We have had a busy week. Tom was in hospital from Oct 30-Nov 8. Dunnville Hospital is an amazing little hospital and Tom received the best of care by Dr. Reddy and the nurses there. He's home now with Lifeline in place and with Alicia staying with him at night. After everything she's been through, she's quite nervous about her Dad's health. Although he was considered well enough to come home, he is still very weak and has a troublesome cough. Alicia, of course is still mourning the death of her stillborn daughter 3 weeks ago. She has also lost her uncle Bob Solon, Tom's sister Wanda's husband,who died suddenly on Tuesday with a massive stroke. It certainly has been a rough week for many in our family.
This very familiar reading expresses my experience through these days.

One night a man had a dream.
He dreamed he was walking along
the beach with the Lord.

Across the dark sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene, he noticed
two sets of footprints in the sand,
one beloning to him and the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him,
he looked back at the footprints in the sand.
He noticed that many times along the path of his life
there was only one set of footprints.
He also noticed that it happened at the
very lowest and saddest times in his life.
This bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it.

"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,
you'd walk with me all the way.
But I have noticed that during the most
troublesome times in my life there is
only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why when I needed you most
you would leave me."

The Lord replied "My precious, precious child,
I love you and would never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffereing,
when you see only one set of footprints in the sand,
it was then that I carried you."

FRIENDS

These past couple weeks have been very difficult for our family. Less than two weeks ago, my stillborn granddaughter, Orie, was born. Before that time and since, Tom, my husband, has been feeling increasingly unwell. After 3 visits to the local ER, today he was admitted to the hospital diagnosed with congestive heart failure and pneumonia. It indeed has been a stressful time.

Dealing with these things is not easy. However, as I reflect, I realize how much support and strength has come from my friends. I am so blessed to have wonderful friends around me, with whom I can share my difficulties and burdens.

Thank you, Lord, for friends.

Believing that God Makes No Mistakes

October 21, 2007

Today is the day that we celebrate the birth and mourn the death of precious little Orie Phyllis Alice Harper, born October 17, 2007 at 1036 p.m. Orie, it was a privilege to briefly get to know you and to spend some wonderful moments with you - admiring the workmanship of God, as we gazed at your perfectly shaped little face, arms, hands, legs and feet. Although we never heard you scream "Hello" to the world, or felt you wiggling in our arms, you are very special to us. God makes no mistakes. Your life has made an impact on each of us. We are reminded that there are many things that we do not understand and that cause us pain. We will miss watching you grow, getting to know you, being with you on our family vacation at Camp Kahquah, joining around our large family table.

I can almost hear you speaking the words of Psalm 139 in a prayer to our Heavenly Father.
"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank You for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous - oh how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in Your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed."

Orie, you have gone on before us. We anticipate seeing you again one day.