UpWords with Max Lucado

UpWords with Max Lucado

Recently I joined a workplace and for the first time in my working years experienced workplace bullying. I still have no course of action but these words from Max Lucado helped my wounded ego this morning.

Fishing at Fishlake Falls

Yesterday we enjoyed the last day of fishing season in the woods at Fishlake falls with our 77 year old sister and brother-in-law.What a blessing to walk through the sun dappled forest and fish at the base of a rushing falls. Nature speaks so softly and definately of the Creator.

There's nothing quite as tasty as fish cooked beside the stream where they are caught. My hubby is the chef. We roll them in crumbled barbequed chips...yum, yum!! The troat in the picture is my catch of the day. The other one I caught was a wee bit tinier.

Hubby's 60..when did we get so old?LOL

We escaped to a wonderfully private 'Castle Inn' in Perth-Andover NB to celebrate the big 60th. It's the little touches that make a get-away memorable. The Chef, who is the best kept secret of the area, brought Gary's desert with a candle in it and the whole dining room burst into a rousing rendition of 'Happy Birthday'. The evening was relaxed and the meal took 2 hours with every bite a delight.
 Getting older has many benefits...no babysitters, no frantic calls,no chasing little ones and mostly learning to talk adult language again. But don't let that statement fool you,while enjoying the unhurried peacefullness we were planning a family weekend and a grandchildren get-away...LOL. Lifelong habits!!

Fall Memories

Today is fresh with the memories of those gone on. As fall approaches it brings them back....mom making pickles, dad splitting wood, Mitch with plaid shirt and beat-up wheeler and of course Alex. Al is so alive in all seasons but especially fall. I can hear him, see him, smell him...I wish I could hold him.

License Picture

My picture looks like an escapee.

clipped from e5.email.myway.com TODAY'S CLEAN LAUGH *License Picture* A traffic cop stopped a woman for a minor traffic violation. After examining her driver's license in silence for a moment, he said, "You know something? This is one of the finest, most realistic pictures I've ever seen. I'm glad to see you aren't one of those vain women who have their photos retouched to remove all the lines in their face." "Sir," she replied icily, "you are looking at my thumb-print." *Thanks to Pastor Tim for this joke!* http://www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh

Al's Internment

A Letter of Thanks

Today we lay our son's body in the ground. But, as we do, his spirit is running free. If you listen with your heart, you can hear him laughing.
What do parents say as they stand at the graveside of their son?
We say "Thank You" for 34 good years. "Thank You" for a son who brought life and laughter with him. "Thank You"for a son filled with common sense and who knew that the joy of living is found in simple things........ a wheeler ride, a camp fire, fishing, hunting,walking, singing, working, a good meal all enhanced when shared with those you love.
One of our favorite memories of you is watching you with Alexis, snuggled up close, going on the wheeler, your crutches on the front, a huge grin on your face and Champ running along side.
"Thank You", Lord, for giving us a son who blessed us in living and set such an example of faith and courage in his dying.
"Thank You", Lord, for a son who, when working 2 jobs to scrape by and had to decide between a package of gum or a chocolate bar because he couldn't afford both,could still laugh and enjoy his little family in a trailor beside nan and paps.
" Thank You", Lord, for a son who loved his wife and 3 girls, was faithful, hard-working and generous.
Thank you for the 3 wonderful children,Julie, Rich and Amy, that we have left. Thank you for our daughter-in-laws-Ang and Crystal, our son-in-law- Greg, our seven grandchildren-Kait, Jessie, Alexis, Riley, Matt, Vada and Walker.
Thank you Lord,because in the midst of all this, we can still know we are Truly Blessed.
You are a Great God and,as Al used to sing,'It's a Great Day to be Alive'.
Thank,Lord, that our Hope is in you and we can trust you with our son.
And to you, Al- We LOVE You! You are always with us. We're stumbling around now but we'll be all right. You have made us so proud and grateful to have you as son, sibling, parent and husband. We'll see you in a little while. LOVE YOU ALWAYS Dad and Mom

P.S.
When you were a baby, I held you close,smelled your hair, snuggled your softness and wondered what kind of man you would become. I want you to know that you sure turned out well, real well! I try not to burst with pride but sometimes it just sneaks out a little.--------mom
P.S.
As you know Al,I was always a man of few words, but today I want you to know I admired you as a son. I'm thankful for the many good times and laughs we had at the camp. The many things you built for our home will always be cherished.
But most of all, I am Thankful for the way you kept your faith right to the end and did not become bitter with God. You knew you had too much to gain to lose.
So today, son, as we lay your earthly body to rest we take comfort in knowing we will meet again someday soon. Love you always and forever.......Dad

A long, lonely winter

The miracle is that we are still functioning. We even laugh. Routine, daily responsibilities hold us in hard places. May the 10th we'll bury our son. As the day approaches our hearts are aching more. There are many things that help us cope-the grandchildren,our remaining children, our daughters-in law, our son-in-law, our friends, our church family and our Faith. But mostly it's just God who carries us along. we are too heart weary to even pray for strength.
It helps to see his dog in the yard, hear the laughter of his daughters, have his wife set at the table.In many ways he's still with us.
It helps to believe that he is running on 2 good legs,singing and laughing with lungs that are cancer free. It helps but it doesn't make me any less lonely.
I miss you Al.