H1N1 & Remembering

Finally after two weeks, I am feeling better! At 44, I can say that the past two weeks have been the worst sickness I have ever experienced! No energy, sleeping lots, no appetite, a terrible cough, anxiety when nighttime came because I knew I would not be able to sleep and so on.....

When I think of what today stands for - I have so much to be thankful for! Freedom and peace! H1N1 is really small compared to what soldiers from our country are doing in Afghanistan and what others sacrificed in years past! We will remember them!

Fresh Eyes

Today it was beautiful in the Humber Valley! Sunny and crisp! I took a few minutes to take some pictures of the beautiful scenery that surrounds me. It seems I am looking at it with fresh eyes this year! I have been away for four years and even though I lived in northern Ontario for two years the falls colours there do not compare! Maybe I am a little bias! These pics were taken within five minutes of where I live! I am blessed!

Top Ten Reasons for Being Thankful!

On the eve of this Thanksgiving weekend I thought I would post my top ten reasons to be thankful! I have many more......

I am thankful for:

1. The fact that I am a child of God.
2. My parents and other extended family.
3. The way God has directed my life.
4. The opportunities I have had in ministry through The Salvation Army.
5. where I am living!!! Woo Hoo!!!
6. So many friends and those who will talk on the phone for an hour or two or more at times! It's a support network across the miles in most cases!
7. People who have been a great influence on me.
8. Creativity in leisure and in ministry.
9. Authors who write great books that I love to read.
10. The drive between Corner Brook and Pasadena in the fall - the Humber Valley is just alive with colour!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!!

The Noticer

While I was packing to move recently, I read a great book called The Noticer by Andy Andrews. It was a good book for me to read at the time because I needed perspective and that's what this book is all about really - looking at a situation through a different lens than you had previously. It is written as a story but it is much more!

Jones was a man who had the gift of perspective. Throughout the book we find Jones meeting up with various people in a variety of circumstances. He is able to listen to their situation and give them a different perspective than they presently had. Jones persective changed people's lives - he was an influencer. Andy's story begins the book - he found himself homeless through a series of tragic events - Andy's story has a successful ending as a result of his encounter with Jones and there are more stories like that throughout the book.

There were several class lines in this book that challenged me:
1. "Worry...fear....is just a misuse of the creative imagination that has been placed in each one of us." Page 52
2. "No matter your age, physical condition, financial situation, color, gender, emotional state or belief.....everything you do, every move you make matters to all of us--and forever." pg. 91

Jones planted seeds of perspective in the lives of those he met and we are encouraged to do the same! Who are the five most influential people in your life? I know who mine are and I hope my name is on someone's list! I had an opportunity to plant a seed of perspective in a young life this week and I want to continue doing that as long as I am able!

The Crown of the Valley

It's been a while since I have blogged and I decided that tonight was the night for me to begin again! Since July I have been living in Pasadena, NL which has been dubbed The Crown of the Valley meaning the Humber Valley! It's a great place - not too far from all the necessities but a place that has almost everything you need! When I go for a walk, I feel like I am walking in a park. The people are friendly, its a very ecumenical community and it's also a place where I meet people who I have history with. This is due to the fact that I grew up in Corner Brook just 15 minutes away.

The settling in has been good! I like the house I am living in and after the baseboards go down tomorrow I will be able to settle into my home office where I work from! It's great not having to go out to work - much more relaxing.

The part I love about being a Corps Officer in The Salvation Army is that everyday is different - there is no routine! I am starting a couple of programs soon - Baby Song and Card Making. Plus I am working to make our little thrift store more profitable and its starting to work! For a results oriented person that is very important! I enjoy leading worship and preaching every Sunday morning in Pasadena! And...three times a month I drive to a little place about an hour from here to do the service in the evening! On the week I don't do a service - I go there to visit people. I will have to be very careful driving back from there because it is a high traffic MOOSE area! And of course when the winter arrives I will have to contend with snow as well!

The best part of being in Pasadena is closeness to family! Being able to go to Mom and Dad's for supper or to drop in on family or friends is great! My family has been grieving my aunt's death in the last number of months and so to be around to talk to cousins about how they are feeling and hopefully being a support is also great! It makes me realize the importance of maintaining the family connection with cousins because in the future we will need each other more than we realize now perhaps!

All in all - this has been a great transition and I am praying for the best here in Pasadena and hoping that I can stay a long long time! A shopping trip to the mainland or US at least once a year would be great too!

I am looking forward to the fall colours of this area which I haven't seen in four years! Everyday now the drive to Corner Brook looks different or looking at the mountains around Pasadena look different! The area is definitely alive with colour!

First Sunday

Well, I have completed my first Sunday on the Pasadena/Hampden circuit. It was good to lead worship and preach again! Same sermon twice! I spoke on Philippians 3:12-16. I used the idea for my intro that when I arrived in PAB and then in Corner Brook - I felt like I had arrived! However in the Christian life we have NOT arrived - not until Jesus comes or we go to be with Him. I anticipate some re-organizing and some communication with people over the next little while in both places!

It is good to be here!! I should have used that song today! There is a sense of security in being home. There has been some family home this week so its good to see them and for my niece to meet her cousins! It's lots of fun trying to keep an 11 year old occupied!

Tomorrow is a meeting about business and unpacking! Some work needs to happen at the house - buy bookcases, maybe some new flooring, a de-humidifier, painting the bathroom - bright lime green just does not go with my decor! Especially since I bought ocean/beach stuff in PEI to put in my bathroom! It needs to be blue!

Have a good week!

In Limbo

I am kind of in limbo right now! It's actually a nice place to be and wonder how long I could stay in limbo before someone noticed! I left Pine Lake Camp on Monday, had a wonderful steak and salmon dinner at the Langer's before they drove me to the hotel. Then on Tuesday I flew to Halifax where my brother and niece greeted me at the airport. My parents arrived on Wednesday, then my niece and I spent the night at a hotel with my good friend Louise. Time to debrief from our DYS appointments and camp! Today was just some shopping and tomorrow will be more of the same. On Sunday, my parents, niece and I are going to PEI for two nights and then on to NL on Wednesday. Once in NL, there will be family to visit with and re-connect. Then Sunday comes when I have to come out of limbo and then on Monday the unpacking begins!

In limbo is a nice place to be - however I am thinking of what I have left behind and hoping all is well there! I am looking forward to starting something new in a few days and even though I have just left camp - I am going to camp again on July 17th!! Music Camp at Twin Ponds! Looking forward to re-connecting with people there!

I wonder if I would ever get bored of being in limbo....