I Am Feeling Well

Hi Everyone,

Just a few lines tonight to say I am feeling so much better. It has been a rough few weeks. I will continue taking the B12 shots for a while longer and have my blood work done on a regular basis for a few months. We are hoping to boost my immune system and the good Lord willing we will. I want to feel 100% soon as my sister and her husband are interested in going on a cruise to Alaska with me, now that is something to really look forward to. It won't be until this Fall or next Spring but I know we can make it happen. It is something I have always wanted to do.

Our weather has been brutal. My niece lives in Calgary and they received 22 cms. of snow over night and today. In fact the highway was closed for the better part of the day due to heavy snowfall and many accidents. Here in Morinville it was cold, snow flurries this morning and rain off and on throughout the day. We may get snow tomorrow. When I look at all your pictures and see your flowers blooming and those beautiful lilac trees I am amazed as we are not near that stage yet. I am optimistic the growing season will arrive soon.

I am waiting for the handy man to replace 2 boards on my deck, it then needs to be painted and then I will put out my wicker furniture. I won't hang my baskets or plant any flowers until the first week in June at the earliest.....I am so looking forward to it.

Since I have been ill I have been trying to keep up with most of your blogs, one of my blogging friends has passed away, 2 babies have been born and so many are going through treatment. I think of each and every one of you every day and not a day goes by that I don't say a special prayer for all of you.

God Bless...........and many, many hugs :-)

Ordinary People with Manners

Dear Friends,

Hope you all had a good week and will be able to sit back, relax and enjoy the weekend.

We had lovely weather for a few days but yesterday and today were windy, cold and wet. It almost feels like it may snow. This type of weather is very hard on the arthritis.......In my next life I am going to be a weather women as I am just as accurate predicting the weather as the man we have here on TV.

Yesterday I was guest speaker at a Capital Health Luncheon, I spoke on "living with terminal illness and chronic pain." There were about 80 people there, some patients with family members or friends and others were care givers. Sometimes when I speak at these events I don't feel any one is paying a lot of attention but yesterday was a good day, people were interested and listened. Many stayed around after lunch and speeches asking questions and we were happy to spend time with them answering their questions as best we could and what we didn't know we were able to refer them or give them telephone numbers where they could call for help. Later in the afternoon I had to drive a friend downtown Edmonton as his truck had been recalled so he had to pick it up. He was asking about my volunteer work and what kind of people I dealt with. I looked at him and said "just ordinary people with manners" and I cannot think of a better way to describe them. They live and always will live every day of their lives knowing they will not get any better yet they were so thankful that we cared about them and wanted to help them, they were pleased to receive the information and the references we gave and they were a pleasure to help out. What really made an impression on me was how they spoke softly and use words like please, appreciate and thank you, they didn't act like they were entitled to anything but they did act very grateful. Sometimes I have found manners today have become a lost art. Working with these kind of people make volunteer work so worthwhile and encourages me and my co-workers to want to learn more, to help more and make these people's lives just a bit easier. I love to hear them laugh and see them smile.

Today I had another B12 shot and will continue having one every week for the next 3 weeks. I am feeling better but still quite tired so hopefully these shots will give me a bit more energy. All in all it has been a productive week. I have been invited to join friends tomorrow, they are going to the lake to open up their cottage for the season and I would really love to go especially if we have nice weather, if it is cold and wet I think I will sit home by the fire and read my new novel.....what are your plans?

God Bless.............and many, many Hugs.....:-)

Happy Birthday Terri

Today we have another lady in our village celebrating her birthday. Terri of "Just for the Health of It". Terri and I live in the same part of Canada, at one time we even worked for the same company and we both began blogging within a couple days of each other.

Terri is actually quite shy, I love to play Miss Meet and Greet so when I would run into her in the halls or lunch room I wouldn't give her much choice but to acknowledge me with an hello and she always did with a big smile. We don't get to see each other very often any more since I am no longer in the work force but it always is nice when we manage to meet for lunch or run into each other at Chapters Book Store.

Terri has a lovely family and is blessed to be able to spend time especially with her daughter and granddaughter.....I always feel happy after reading one of her post which includes fun times with her family or walking her sweet little dog Molly.

Happy Birthday my friend and I wish you a wonderful day filled with family, friends and fun. Have lots of cake and ice cream Just For The Health Of It.

I hope you all will take a moment and pop over to Terri's and make her day just a little bit more special by sending her your good wishes.

God Bless...............as always many, many hugs :-)

Hey I'm Getting There.....I Think

Oh my dear friends,

Your comments and e-mails have filled my heart with such love and gratitude. Thank you for your prayers, good wishes and many blessings.

Just a short post to let you all know I am doing okay. I saw my doctor today and it appears my immune system is turning on itself and this is what is making me ill. He has ordered more test......(a sarcastic grin here) and he also gave me a vitamin B12 shot today, with more to come....yay!

Honestly I really did have a nice day. I met 2 of my sweetest friends at Boston Pizza for lunch and we sat and talked for over an hour after we finished eating. It was great, we chatted and shared and laughed a lot. I so needed this as it feels as though it has been weeks since I have felt like going out socially. I also brought home my left overs and ate them along with a chunky salmon skewer I BBQ'd for my supper. It was delicious.

Our weather has been absolutely beautiful, +27 on my deck today. We desperately need rain, our farmers are really praying for more moisture and it looks like their prayers will be answered on Thursday.

I also met with my accountant concerning my income taxes yesterday and he has advised me that a mistake has been made with my income taxes over the past several years. Apparently a disability form had not been filled out and included with my tax forms, it means (so he tells me) that once an amendment form has been filled out and filed on my behalf I will be able to take a cruise around Alaska.....not really but this is something I want to do and I just may be able too now.....so all is not so bad, just have to get this immune system straighted out and all will be well with the world.

Okay my neighbour just stopped in and we are going to bike to Tim's for a coffee, will talk to you all real soon.

God Bless.........and many, many hugs........:-)

We Can Only Do Our Best.....Then Let It Go

Dear Friends,

It is so good to be back with you, I am not feeling 100% yet but I am better for which I am very thankful. I had to deal with a bit more than what I thought was flu but what is important here is that I am on the feel good road now. I need one more IV and hopefully my thyroid and potassium levels will be normal and I will be able to get moving again. I am so looking forward to being outside, although our weather hasn't been great lately it is suppose to be absolutely gorgeous this weekend.

You know while I was sick I would manage to visit a few blogs and sometimes add comments. I saved my energy mostly (not always) to comment on those post where I thought perhaps I could help. There was this one blog I followed which I found very sad. A blogger (from the UK) mother is dying, the daughter along with outside health care workers are helping her mother go through the dying process. The daughter's anger showed in every post. I felt her anger through my screen, she resented any decision her mother made on her own behalf, she resented having to take time out of her day to care for her mother be it a bit of shopping, making a cup of tea or piece of toast or do a load of laundry.....she seemed to resent everything about her mother and her mother's illness, I especially noticed her resentment for what she perceived was a lack of help from her brother. My heart ached for the mother, the daughter well for the whole situation really. I had been commenting for awhile when I received an e-mail expressing that I did not know her, her situation and that she didn't appreciate my comments. This came after I had advised her that things could turn around quickly and perhaps she should put off her vacation for a while. Her mother had not been eating or drinking for several days and the nurses were trying to arrange a bed for her in hospice care. In my heart I didn't want her mother to pass when she was away on vacation, I thought she may feel guilty by not being there......well I very wrong. I learned a lesson from this experience, that even though some people blog and put their feelings and what they are dealing with out there in blogsville it doesn't mean they want any feedback especially feedback that may not agree with their line of thinking. If you agree with them.....that's okay......but if you disagree well don't tell them or you are going to get an earful. Did it bother me?....Honestly no it didn't. I know I tried and I also know my heart's intention was to support this lady. Would I do it again, of course I would, it is what I do. Will I return to her blog to do it, no.......my motto is and has always been "do no harm", I learned a long time ago that you cannot help anyone who doesn't want to be helped. Some people just enjoy complaining, thinking they deserve praise and sympathy for doing what they should be doing anyway. Also, I am not perfect, I make mistakes and I may be wrong in making any kind of suggestion ....just because I think she should be there in case her mother needed/wanted her there when she passed away.... well the daughter is right, I do not know anything about their situation really. I only know what she blogged about, in fact I only commented on what she had blogged about. I did e-mail her and apologized for her being upset with what I had suggested and assured her that I would continue praying and would not offer any more advice on her situation, I will respect and be more sensitive of her feelings. I am giving a speech next week on dealing with chronic pain and terminal illness, this experience has given me many power points too use and hopefully it will help someone else in how to share their feelings during similar crisis. In the meantime I will continue to pray for this family as I know from experience this situation will get much worse before it gets better. A heart without love and empathy but filled with anger and resentment is a heart that needs many prayers and much healing,.....what is even sadder after several months of blogging I was one of only 3 who followed her and I was the only one who ever commented. I use to wonder why the other two never commented, perhaps together we could of supported this poor lady.

I know I have enjoyed and learned from every comment I have ever received, I always appreciated someone making the effort to show me they cared, and that included even those who didn't agree with me but helped me see another point of view. Those who follow me know I respond to others with my heart, I am not always right but I always have love in my heart with my truth of how I see a situation. I believe in honesty, loyalty and respect and sometime say some things that may not be pleasant to hear but needs to be said.

The Stanley Cup Play-offs started tonight, in fact I am going back and forth between 2 channels trying to keep up with both games.....and what about that Phil Michelson winning the Masters on the weekend....were you like me.....I had tears in my eyes as he hugged his wife Amy after his win. Good things happen to good people and I loved it. I still am a fan of Tiger's golf game and I do hope his game and his life will become balanced and happy......to me he is one of the greatest athletes to ever play the game. I am so thankful I get to watch these talented people.

Hope you are all doing well and enjoying beautiful Spring weather.....I plan on it this weekend in fact I can't wait.

God Bless and .......many, many hugs :-)

Happy Birthday Diana

Dear Friends,

I am still down with a touch of flu but I just couldn't let this special day go by with out telling you about a wonderful friend of mine. Today we are having another birthday in the village. Diana, of Welcome to My World has been a good neighbour in our village from the very beginning. She is not only a wonderful person, she is a marvelous wife, mother and grandmother. She has a wicked sense of humor and makes us all laugh and sees the humor in almost every situation. We all love and appreciate her friendship and I for one am so thankful to call her my friend.

I hope you will take a moment and stop by to wish her a Happy Birthday on this her special day.....let's make it just a little bit more special for her.

Happy Birthday my dear friend, our village is so much better for having you in it, I have loved having you in my life this past year. I hope you will find it to be your best birthday ever.

God Bless and ............many, many hugs.......:-)

Wonderful Gifts From Wonderful Bloggers

Friends, just wanted to add a note to this post:

I am sorry I haven't been commenting but I have been sick the last couple of days with the flu. I hope to be back blogging on a regular basis really soon. Thank you all for understanding.......:-) Hugs

I had set a post for last night but somehow blogger not only didn't print it but now I cannot find it.......when I went to publish it manually it went into cyber space. Sometimes I feel I wasn't meant to use a computer.

Over the past several months I have received gifts from all of over the world. I have e-mailed or sent thank you cards to these lovely bloggers who were so very thoughtful. Last nights post included links to each blog but I fell asleep worried that I may have left someone out.....perhaps this is the way it is suppose to be. They know how thankful I am for the their

I have received doilies, sachets, refrigerator magnets, several book marks, soaps and a journal. I have also read two published books written by two of my favorite bloggers, one was called Visions, written by Victor Semoubarak a favorite author of mine. Everyday on his bog, Time for Reflections he writes about a priest, Father Ignatius and his parish. After reading Victor's book I passed it on to my niece and great niece. My great niece who is 14 loved it and I loved how she learn so many life lessons in such a kind and gentle way. She asked many questions and gave me the opportunity to help her with certain life problems which she is experiencing right now. I would absolutely recommend this book for all those who are teaching Catechism classes. It is a wonderful tool to have on hand to teach young people about our world today.

Another favorite author and blogger is Rose Marie Raccioppi. Her blog is called Apogee Poet and her published book is filled with the most wonderful poems. I encourage all of you to visit Rose Marie and Victor. I am sure you will be pleased with their blogs and talents.

I sincerely hope I have not left a much appreciated gift off my list, if I have it certainly was not intentional. I do not blog to received gifts, if I say something that can help or encourage someone through a difficult time then I am happy. I share my heart and realize that I do not have a monopoly on human feelings, I am not the only one who cares for others.......I feel that each one of us would and do reach out and help others whenever we can. Bloggers have a special bond, a certain connection to each other that cannot be found in any other genre....we are all blessed.

Aren't They Beautiful

Dear Friends,

I do hope you had a wonderful Easter - oh I had such a wonderful weekend. The doorbell rang Saturday afternoon and to my complete surprise I received these beautiful roses from a very special friend. I don't think I have every received white roses before and they are so lovely. I should take another picture today as they have bloomed so full and are ever so pretty.

Saturday was spent with friends, shopping, having a BBQ and fun around an outside fire pit during the evening. Sunday began with going to Mass, out for breakfast with a close friend and then later that afternoon I went with a dear friend to her daughters for Easter dinner. She served my favorite meal, Turkey with all the trimmings and of course I had to push it and have dessert. It was just a perfect day.

Our weather has been so beautiful, not as nice as where some of you live but for Alberta it was absolutely gorgeous. +20C one day and I was able to clean my tiny back yard and prepare my flower pots for planting. I need to replace a couple of 2 x 4's on my deck and then it needs to be painted, well I'm sure I can do the painting but I will have to hire someone to replace the boards.

My neighbour Ron brought me over a swing for my deck and when he was coming through the gate he bent down and picked up my long lost keys. I was so happy to get that Harrods key chain back, the keys are not much good as most of the locks have already been replaced. I just couldn't believe how they were just lying there when I had looked in that same spot at least a hundred times. Unbelievable.....

We are having another lovely day today, I have already been outside playing in the dirt.....and I am really looking forward to planting my flowers this year. I also want to get a couple of more bird houses and if I can find the room for it I would love to provide a bird bath for my wonderful visitors. I love my townhouse condo but if it has a drawback it would be I don't have much front lawn or back yard.

Ivy the little girl that comes in and cleans for me every 3 weeks is upstairs cleaning and I am taking a break from washing flower pots......She is coming down for a cold drink in a few minutes. I also have an appointment in a couple of hours so I will need to shower and dress up for that. Ahhhh life is so good especially right now my friends.

I just finished watching Tiger's interview, it is good to see him coming back to golf. It is even better hearing him taking responsibility for his actions. I believe him. He loves his wife, children and mother.....he knows he has made mistakes and he refuses to blame anyone other than himself. I have to say for me that makes me hope for him even more.....I want him to be successful and I want him and his family to be happy and healthy. Personally I think it is so much more important to have peace of mind and heart, knowing contentment and being loved and respected by your family and friends than winning any kind of tournament or being famous. I think Tiger will find it is much easier taking a step up the ladder than taking a step down that same ladder. Good Luck Tiger and may you always follow the path you are following now and your journey be one of peace and love.

Springtime is such a wonderful time, this week the baseball season has started, one of my favorite golf tournaments, The Master's is happening but the best part is my friend Terry will be home soon from wintering down south.......we have so much to catch up on, can't wait.

Have a great week everyone, God Bless......many, many hugs....:-)