blessings...

Twenty years ago I married the man I love. Today, I am blessed and so grateful to still be his wife and to love him more than I then knew I could. Kirby and I fell in love taking long walks around Garneau and Old Strathcona near the U of A in Edmonton. Since then we've walked up and down mountains, along oceans and lakes and rivers and Pincher Creek. (a lot there- home for half our marriage so far!) The first book we read to each other was Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson. I wish I'd kept a list of our shared reading since then. (what happens when a couple of English majors fall hard for each other ;) The first couple decades of our life together have been largely devoted to raising our three wonderful children. So far, so good! I can only hope (and trust me, I pray) that the rest of our lives will be spent basking in the light of them and eventually their own families... We have enjoyed cooking and eating countless meals together, and for one another and our fami...

This afternoon I felt a migraine coming on. Oh dread. Counting back to the 20th, which I easily remember (it being my beloved husband's birthday) I had the relief of knowing it had been over the minimum of 72 hours since I last used the prescription meds to treat such a headache- so I was free and clear to take the good stuff right away this time. How many people the world over suffer with migraines and much much worse, without being able to access the medical care and/or afford the medicine to so quickly and easily treat what ails them...? I wish everyone could enjoy the healthcare and pharmaceutical benefits I have.  And I do thank Heaven for this blessing.

This afternoon as one of my dayhome clients was leaving with her children, her daughter suddenly turned back in the doorway to see who had just begun playing such beautiful music on the piano. This little girl takes piano lessons herself; maybe that's why the playing caught her ear like it did. Imagine my delight as I stood aside to let her see it was my youngest daughter who had just come into the living room and sat down at the piano for a moment of refreshment at the end of the day. Sitting here at my desk just now, I caught a moment of my other daughter's angelic voice on the air, floating down casually from her bedroom, where she's studying. This is a pretty frequent occurrence, occasionally leading me to wonder if I live with Disney princesses.  But no, it's even better because this is my real life. And Mary and Emma are my real princesses. Thank Heaven.

Our dear friends' youngest child was killed in a car accident a week ago this evening. I can still hardly believe it; he was the liveliest, happiest little boy I've ever known.  What I am grateful for is that his family and all of us can face this terrible tragedy with faith, knowing that families can be together forever. Because of this sweet assurance, his loving parents and brothers and sisters trust Edward is surrounded by family members in Heaven, and safe in the tender care of Heavenly Father and Jesus... And that one day, when their turn comes to pass from this life into the next one, they will see and embrace their beloved little son again, and never more be parted.  Somehow it seemed a bit backward that it was his parents comforting me at his funeral yesterday. It actually seems unreal to even think of someone so full of life having a funeral at all. But I do thank Heaven for the great and powerful peace of God, which passes all our understanding and reaches us in w...

Staying at home is what I do pretty much all the time. "I don't get out much" is totally factual for me at this season of my life. It's winter, and that means wind. And at the moment I am enjoying lots of babies in my dayhome. So not lots of going outside.  And that's ok. Home is great.  We are blessed to have comfortable homes, and I'm not knocking it.  But it's a stat holiday and I was hoping to go spend the day in a picnic shelter on the shore of Waterton Lake, with a fire burning in the huge stone fireplace and snuggled into a reclining lawn chair under a wool blanket... Maybe taking a brave stroll through the gale-force wind along the edge of the lake if I felt adventurous.  Or maybe just venturing as far as the simmering hot chocolate pot on the nearest wood stove. But alas, this was not to be.  So at my supportive husband's encouragement, I am taking the day off, here at home. Trickier than it sounds. Although he is doing the laundry, I hear...