Lest We Forget ....

I have a German student this year, my sweet darling Lena. She's been asking questions about Remembrance Day -- what happens on that day? How do we honour the fallen? Do I have anyone who was directly connected to either of the wars. She said that she finds it wonderful and new to be in a country where we celebrate our military and honour those who have died defending our country and our freedom. Her grandmother's brother was killed on the Russian front and his body never recovered: her grandma cried one year after reading his letters. He was just 22 years of age.

Germans don't study German history at any time in their education because of the guilt and shame they still feel to this day. Do you want to know Germany remembers the wars?

Each year, holocaust survivors come to German schools and speak to the Grade 10 and up students about their experiences in the concentration camps -- about what was done to them; how horrible it was; how horrible it still is for some in remembering that they survived while thousands didn't. Lena heard 2 Polish survivors last year and cried throughout the talk. 

It has given me a whole new perspective on "Lest We Forget".

Our brave guys may not have come home, but we hold our heads high for them and we honour them by remembering their sacrifice. Not only do we have the blessing of being victors, but we also have the blessing of pride because of what these brave men (and women) have done and continue to do.

Thank you: we will not forget.

Tata for Now!

Like so many of you before me have done, I'm taking a sabitical from blogging.  I just don't seem to have enough time in the day/week/month to get it all done; and I never seem to get enough rest lately.  I'm cutting back a couple of things because God has been speaking to me about simplifying my life, and I need to listen to Him because He knows what's best for me.   

I want to say a huge thank you for being my followers and my online blogging friends.  Thanks for the words of encouragement and support and thanks for having such great blogs yourselves -- for giving me cause to think sometimes, for making me laugh, and for all the wonderful recipes and the glimpses into your own lives.

I don't think my departure will be forever -- I certainly hope not!  But for now, I say adieu.  I shall try to keep up with you from time to time.  And if I find I have anything I really want to share, I'll certainly do that.

Now, let's find that book and that brew and that hammock in the cabin in the woods, miles from nowhere and technology and distractions. And let's listen to the birds and the lap of the waves and most importantly, let's rest!

 Oh wait now!  That was my dream voice speaking.  Darn it!

It'll be more like let's cook dinner without yawning your way through; let's stop rushing from place to place and perhaps have a chance to stroll; let's spend some time in the hammock in the back yard; let's meditate on what God has given me to enjoy and let's see what else He has in store for me.

Let's get a good night's sleep!

See you later!

Music hath charms......

 "Music hath charms to soothe 

a savage breast, to soften 

rocks or bend a knotted oak."

William Congreve  

There's some music ..........................

I can be trying to recover from a nasty headcold (as I am now); worried about leaky pipes and no $$; worried about kids or bills (or kids with bills!).  I can be in traffic, in pain, in limbo.   It doesn't matter where I am or how I'm feeling, there's some music that makes it all disappear.  It's like an answered prayer.  It's like floating.

Canada's classical station CBC Radio Two is "Rocking Your Bach" this morning.  I like classical music, and I really like Bach.  But I just heard JS Bach's Cello Suite #1, and it was more than just music.    

Here I was -- alone in my (this morning) dreary, damp office, rain falling outside, head cloudy, nose stuffed, shoulder aching.  But when I heard that music, I had to stop typing, sit back, close my eyes and drink -- long and deep.  Soooo, beautiful!  It transports me:

--- to a sun dappled meadow of flowers or a quiet beach or the loving arms of my Father; warmth and peace fill me; the presence of God is all around me and it is simply divine.

Ahhhhh!  
Back to reality all too soon.  But it's a little piece of heaven that I can enjoy over and over again, whenever I need it.

How about you?  Does music touch your soul?  Does it stop you in your tracks?  Transport you?  Make you cry? 

• What music?
• And where do you go?

HOW TO GAIN WEIGHT SUCCESSFULLY

Todays class is entitled:  "How to Gain Weight Successfully and Water-down your Mid-morning Bowl of Berries 'n' Yogurt with your Tears."  

This is a multi-stepped process which includes the following:

1. Spend several months growling and lashing out at large but inert piles of stuff belonging to one's beloved children
2. Encounter slight guilt over feelings of elation at impending departure of beloved Child #2
3. Become mildly stressed with impending return of beloved Child #3
4. Take lots of Advil and/or Tylenol because of on-going shoulder and neck pain
5. Don't walk for a week because of rain 
6. Forget that you're 57 and exhaust yourself by slogging all weekend cleaning & organizing
7. Refuel your exhausted 57 yr old body with non-nutritious comfort food like granola bars and grilled cheese sandwiches
8. Spend your Sat evening laughing,drinking red wine and eat deliciously cute little sandwiches (sans crust) and rich decadent iced brownies
9. Celebrate a birthday with lasagne, lemon cheese pie and more red wine
10. Accidentally pick up 4 PP+ regular Kozy Shack rice pudding snacks instead of the 2 PP+ no sugar variety .... and then eat them all during your work week.

One or two of the above may not give you the results that I achieved.  But together, all 10 of the above steps should ensure a successful 1.6 lb weight gain just like I did.

If, on the other hand, you are wishing to avoid the above, here are some helpful steps to take:

• Continue to demonstrate love to beloved children.  (And pray and pray and pray for them and you!)
• De-stress your life as much as possible:  Breathe deeply, pray, meditate, rest and laugh.
• Relish in the thought that the decluttering and organizing is done.
• Resume your walking routine (and then soak those tootsies in that nice Avon foot soak)
• Take your vitamins
• Make sure you have an ample supply of healthy snacks and keep your eyes open when you shop
• Drink water and eat one salad every day
• Spend 6 days of your week sticking to your healthy regime and only ONE day indulging in your wicked eating desires.
• Pray 'n' worship; and pray 'n' worship,

and possibly the most important 

• pitch a big tent in the backyard, get the house keys from the kids, yell "Look!  There's free beer on the deck!" and lock the door behind them!

(Hahahaha!  Just kidding about that last one.

I'd never put the beer-bait that close to the house.


And I'll at least wait until the end of May when the temperatures warm up!)

Goodnight Irene!

The South Shore of Nova Scotia got off relatively scott free yesterday with Hurricane Irene. We had intermittent rains and some high winds ... but not enough to disturb my lawn furniture. Thank God!

.

Some people and places were not so lucky. My prayers are with those who were affected: those who lost family or property. May God's comfort and provision be with them.

.

And no, I don't think the media hyped it up needlessly. You can NEVER be too careful when it comes to the forces of nature. Mother must be respected! And better safe than sorry.

. . . . .

.

I have a busy couple of days ahead of me as I say goodbye to my Baby Girl and welcome 2 new foreign babies. Hmmmm ... Two for one! A bargain? We'll have to wait and see if they can measure up to the Fair Libby! (I have my doubts.)

.

As all this airport activity will all happen over a 2 day period and there are several airport runs involved, I'll be staying in the city overnight with friends.

.

Can you say Value Village and/or the Market?

.

See you in a couple of days!

A Prayer for the World

.

I add my voice in this song of prayer. Can you hear me singing?

For the people of Japan,

and Libya;

for our family and friends and neighbours

.

Hear Our Prayer

Music by Steve Bell,

Lyric by Steve Bell and Jamie Howison

Now we pray to You Father for peace in the world

For the right use of all You have given

A respect for creation in us be restored

Lord in Your mercy Hear our prayer

And we pray for the poor of the world everywhere

And for all those who suffer from hunger and fear

For those who are homeless – for those who need care

Lord in Your mercy Hear our prayer

Now we pray for those close to us, those who have needs

For the friends that we love and for all our families

For these loved ones we pray Jesus grant them Your peace

Lord in Your mercy Hear our prayer

And we pray for ourselves for forgiveness of sins

For the evil around that is born from within

And we ask You oh God that You heal us again

Lord in Your mercy Hear our prayer

Now in closing we ask You dear Father on our knees

Lord for mercy on all those we call our enemies

So that all might be one in Your love and Your peace

Lord in Your mercy Hear our prayer

.

.