Beautiful Sky!

There are storm warnings in the forecast...

But looking out the window at the beautiful sky gives me a sense of peace!

My window to heaven!

Is There a Problem?!

I was outdoors admiring the flowers, a few evenings ago, when a fire truck came down our street, lights flashing.

(My first thought was: Oh no! They've taken a wrong turn!)

A few minutes later, a second arrived.

An alarm was going off in a neighbour's house...

A few of us congregated outdoors. After half an hour or so, the fire trucks left. In the end, nobody could find what had set the alarm off...

I was thankful...!! 

Thankful ...

• that we have fire stations nearby...
• that we didn't have to evacuate, had they had found a cause for concern, like a gas leak.

But at the same time, I do hope that they will find out what made the alarm go off...

(Never a dull moment!)

Changing Life’s Narrative

Over the summer, I have started listening to a series of podcasts while I knit. 

One series that I’ve really enjoyed is a thoughtful discussion of a book that I also decided to purchase - entitled Invitations From God.

Recently the discussion was about God’s invitation to remember and reflect.

From time to time, I do think and puzzle over something that has happened to me in the past. I often come out of my “trip down memory lane” seeing things a little differently because I try to think about the situation from a different perspective: why would that person do that? Or say that...?

The author of this book - a woman who is probably about my age - mentioned that she has started a new kind of personal remembering exercise. Looking back on painful or troubling incidents, she is searching for things to be THANKFUL for in those experiences. In doing so, she is hoping to “change the narrative” of  the way she sees herself and her life.

THANKFULNESS is powerful!

I might try this too! I’m not sure exactly how...

(She did say that it was a slow, long term project!)

End of Summer?!

Most of my life, I was a student ... or a teacher, so the end of August - to me - signals summer’s end.

Looking back at my summer photos brings back so many memories. Flowers that have come and gone...

All too brief family visits...

Ice cream!

Surprise visitors in the garden...

Two trips to Toronto and Guelph... So thankful for it all!

Thankful for...So Much!!

It's interesting how Thanksgiving weekend (which was last weekend in Canada) turns our hearts - and minds - to appreciating what we have!

Last weekend, we were visiting family in Toronto - and, not surprisingly, reflected on how thankful we were for them all - and especially for our newest family addition, born last April!

She is doing well!

We enjoyed playing with her and reading to her.

Going for walks with her!

A fun - and thankful - time was had by all!