OK, so I can only do this once a week, so it seems. And I don't sleep some nights, so looks like a match of no sleep=blog. The birthday weekend was a blur. Party went well! It is so fun as the girls get older and they actually visit with me, plus they made their own games for the most part, and played well. The time actually flew by, and before we knew it the party was over. Then we went to the Sheraton for a sleepover Sat nite, everyone came for supper and a swim, and a fun time was had by all. Now, we could have gone to Orlando for what I spent on all these events (or one of us could have gone), so next year it's Disneyworld again, well, maybe.

Now the other thing I do when I can't sleep is worry about everything that needs doing here-shovelling, fixing all kinds of things that go wrong in a house--everything is so time consuming, including thinking about it all the time. Should make me tired, then I could sleep, but no...I have to worry about who to do it, how do I find someone to do it, when they can come, how much is it going to be, on and on. Yup, what I really want to do is escape, and since it's night, I'll dream.

Where to go? Somewhere with a temperate clime, cheap to rent, walk where we need to go, schools not necessary as we'll home school the girl for a bit, decent work for me since I can't retire quite yet, and a beach fairly close by. We should take the dog, but the cat will have to stay behind. I'll have to think on this for a bit.

Nope, still not ready for bed...what to do now? Worry? Dream? Got it---Pray!

Happy Birthday to Delaney

I was going to add to my Remembrance day post, but as usual I have been distracted. Remembrance to me is more than the Veterans. I remember the heroes in my life--Doug, my dad, my father-in-law. I really did not finish my thoughts there, but those memories bring me to the next topic--my baby is 10 on Friday the 12th. Wow! She said to me today that she would like to spend just two more days being 9, since 10 is almost a teenager! Ah, such a sweet girlie. And, as usual, as I write about Delaney, I cry. This is her second birthday without her daddy. It is not fair that she has had to experience such tough things already, but life is not fair. So I cherish the little girl with whom I have been entrusted, put my faith in our God who is a Father to the fatherless, and plan the first birthday party I have had to do for any of my kids by myself. Happy birthday, Delaney!

Nov. 11, Remembrance Day. I have read many posts and viewed many YouTube poignant, touching posts honouring veterans. There are many opinions about war- and I offer some here.

Shawn Hlookoff Soldier

www.youtube.com

Rick Mercer in Bosnia

www.youtube.com

Rick Mercer in Bosnia

A Pittance of Time - Terry Kelly

www.youtube.com

On November 11, 1999 Terry Kelly was in a Shoppers Drug Mart store in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. At 10:55 AM an announcement came over the store's PA asking customers who would still be on the premises at 11:00 AM to give two minutes of silence in respect to the veterans who have sacrificed so much for

Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,
My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est
Pro patria mori. (W. Owen)

"Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori

- it is sweet and right to die for your country." Ever since I heard these words in grade 5 or 6 they struck me as false, serving the state in convincing the individual to give up their life. It is a sacrifice that should not have to be made.

My sister-in-law made this comment, and I absolutely agree.

When I became a member of the Mennonite church, a pacifist, as it were, I had to reconcile this for myself. Peace, not war, is currently my choice.

Wars today are usually for very different reasons than Mr. Hitler's campaign of WWII.

BUT what about those people in countries needing help?

Are the various armed forces of many nations fighting for freedom? No, I do not think this. What about wars for oil? But are all wars based on hate? or money? or oil? old grudges? So many questions....but for today, I choose to remember.

Today is day 9 of the 30 days of gratitude, and good friends is the topic. This has been on my mind of late for several reasons. When having lunch with an out of town friend, we got to the topic of Delaney and me moving-what are we going to do? Then she said, " I bet you have lots of friends saying- Don't go!" My reply- well, no, I only have a couple friends that actually talk (meaning keep in touch) with me these days. Hmmm, not what she expected. This is not what I expected either! I suspect ( but don't know for sure) that some people feel glad ( and then guilty) that they are not me. Others feel guilty when they find that keeping in touch has now become a chore. I am NOT going to dwell on this, it is what it is. What I am doing, tho', is assess what kind of friend I am to others. And yes, I am the neglectful one. So, I am going to do something about this. No more procrastination, today is my friend day. Friends, both old and new, are something to be cherished, and for all my friends, even those I don't often see or talk to, I am grateful.

Today my cousin Kim buried her 21 year old sweet boy, Chaz. Sorrow, sadness, family and friends were the themes of the afternoon. It was poignant and heart wrenching to see the tears of Chaz's family and friends. Now, I know as a Christian, we are not as those who have no hope. But today was a day to celebrate the tears, be sad for those who mourn and just be an older cousin.

I'm always blogging in my head--interesting or annoying or challenging things happen, then I make up my blog about the event. Funny thing is, it does not end up on this site. It just rattles around in my head, composing words, different ways to say things so people don't get hurt, how can I write it so I look intelligent...on and on. One good aspect of this non=blogging is I realize how much happens around me. Current events, government decisions, family conflicts all give rise to my personal editorial--I am thinking critically about my world--I am NOT stuck in myself! This is good.

Now another story. This comes from Doug's oldest brother, John--Beer Sales in Saltcoats.

This goes back a lot of years, this memory, to about 1956 or 1957. John was about 10 years old, Gordon (brother #2) was about 8, and Doug was about 4 years old.

" Gordon and I (John) , being the terrific and kind role models that we were as Doug's older brothers, let Doug tag along with us often as we played. Now, this particular afternoon, Gordon, Doug and I were paying in and climbing up on some "swather-like" farm equipment in the lot of a Farm Equipment dealer. Just as we jumped into the swather box, we discovered a box. A box that we weren't familiar with, so we rattled it a bit and there was a clinking of glass-so we opened the box. Lo and behold, it was beer! Someone had stashed a case of beer. Now, we weren't the most street-smart trio in town, but we did know that this was a treasure that our dad would not appreciated--so we decided to sell it.

It was pretty heavy for 3 little kids so we went home and got our wagon. By this time Doug was getting tired so he rode and Gordon and I pulled the wagon back. We loaded up the beer and Doug has to make sure he held it so we didn't lose our precious cargo-away we went.

We went door to door selling beer. How adorable, a little guy n the wagon latching onto a case of beer. Bear in mind, this was a little town where everyone knew everyone and here were the children of Art Shanks ( upstanding citizen, respected teacher, dedicated Superintendent of the Sunday School) peddling beer. They must have been so impressed with how he was bringing up his children! To end the story, Doug sold the beer to an old bachelor on the edge of town. He wanted to by Doug, too, but we knew we were already in trouble, so we decided we shouldn't sell Doug, too."

Thanks, John.