Such a Sad Day

At church this morning we learned that Drew would probably not be with us much longer. And so when we were driving home we got word that Drew had passed away. With much heartache for his parents and brother plus the rest of the families dealing with this sadness, we have to remember that God thought that it was time to call Drew home. Jack and I watched a great video clip about a message to all of God's children and how he is waiting in heaven to welcome each and everyone of us home. I have to believe that this is our ultimate goal to be reunited with our "Father". I keep hearing that folks won't be in pain nor suffer anymore with whatever they did here on Earth. I also know that from this experience we all will love one another just a bit more and not take our family for granted, as we never know what plan God has for us. Rest in peace, little Drew. You will never be forgotten. You have impacted more people than you really know...you were loved by many.

Fall Time - And New Beginnings

It seems that September had just begun and yet when I look at the calendar it is nearly over. My little brother had a birthday in Washington that we were able to celebrate with him; my older brother will turn a half a century old on the last day of September and we had three days in Lake Louise for an oil conference and then we were whisked away to Arlington, Virgina and Washington,DC for a family wedding. Now I am sitting at home wondering where September went. Have you ever had one of those months and just wondered where time went?
The only good thing about September was that we were able to explore one of the oldest, most historic US cities and loved every minute of it. We were able to take underground subways and not get lost; we took in many of the tourist sights and had tourist guides fill our heads with so much history; plus we got to go to a MLB game and feast on a seafood buffet before the game. We attended my godson Camille's wedding in the most beautiful cathedrals that we have ever been in. This far surpassed some of the churches that we saw in all of Italy, and trust me we were in a lot of churches. We were part of a small, intimate wedding complete US style and felt like royalty. So many traditions and yet in Canada we spread our wedding festivities out to last hours. We walked many museums and learned about US history along with going to the Holocaust and learning first hand about the torture that was handed out to so many. I learned that my grandfather was dictated to to fight in a war and lose his life in a foreign country and that my grandmother, uncles & father lost a father all for a wicked, evil man that hurt so many. And yet it is the US that brought that history to America for all to see. Somehow when you tour that building you see so much hatred in the world still going on and so many wicked people wanting things done there way (right or wrong) - evil or non-evil. Somehow history has a way of repeating itself. Yet in a city like Washington we never saw graffiti, never saw garbage strewn about; never saw beggars like we have here; and never saw people being rude or pushing their own agenda's on the subway system...we can learn about changing our ways with a system like that.
Yet we are glad to be home - you bet. So much has taken place even moved on since we have been away and yet it is still good to be home and smell the roses (wilted and drying up) but that's okay as a new season is upon us.

End of August - beginning of New Beginnings

What a busy couple of weeks. Between my uncle in Edmonton recovering from brain cancer (first it was colon cancer and now this), and now my parents are here to help celebrate my great Aunt & Uncle's 60th Wedding Anniversary the month of August has just flown by. What an accomplishment thinking about 60 years being married and even my parents having achieved 50 years of marriage this year, to someone that will never reach that milestone given our ages. But I believe that every year that a person is married is a celebration, especially when cancer is so much part of our lives. My great uncle is going through cancer of the stomach and yet he still is an accomplished violinist, journalist and a husband caring for his wife - both in their 80's. Can you ask for anything better with that lifestyle and marriage accomplishment? We can all wonder about our own life expectancy but sometimes people never think about marriage longevity? Kind of a surprise when you think about how excited folks are in the beginning of planning a wedding or a life together..we forget to take inventory later on in the years about being excited for what else is going to happen down the road; or in the middle of the journey. As we get older we only plan for the next holiday or worse the next long weekend. We need to think about the tomorrows before they get here and include our spouses and make it a real plan together. Do you have your plan? Are you prepared for the next year; the next five years or what about the next 10 years? I know that Jack and I talk about our plans all the time and even though we might never hit retirement together, we know that our plans take us through this month and onto the next couple with all kinds of togetherness and celebrations. We encourage everyone to come up with a couples plan - could be fun and exciting but most of all could be like starting all over again in the beginning - you just never know!

60 Years of Marriage

What a busy couple of weeks. Between my uncle in Edmonton recovering from brain cancer (first it was colon cancer and now this), and now my parents are here to help celebrate my great Aunt & Uncle's 60th Wedding Anniversary the month of August has just flown by. What an accomplishment thinking about 60 years being married and even my parents having achieved 50 years of marriage this year, to someone that will never reach that milestone given our ages. But I believe that every year that a person is married is a celebration, especially when cancer is so much part of our lives. My great uncle is going through cancer of the stomach and yet he still is an accomplished violinist, journalist and a husband caring for his wife - both in their 80's. Can you ask for anything better with that lifestyle and marriage accomplishment? We can all wonder about our own life expectancy but sometimes people never think about marriage longevity? Kind of a surprise when you think about how excited folks are in the beginning of planning a wedding or a life together..we forget to take inventory later on in the years about being excited for what else is going to happen down the road; or in the middle of the journey. As we get older we only plan for the next holiday or worse the next long weekend. We need to think about the tomorrows before they get here and include our spouses and make it a real plan together. Do you have your plan? Are you prepared for the next year; the next five years or what about the next 10 years? I know that Jack and I talk about our plans all the time and even though we might never hit retirement together, we know that our plans take us through this month and onto the next couple with all kinds of togetherness and celebrations. We encourage everyone to come up with a couples plan - could be fun and exciting but most of all could be like starting all over again in the beginning - you just never know!

Busy Weekend

Jack and I decided that this weekend was more about him needing to be in Regina for Carol's funeral service and being that this was more the "Ashby" side, that I would go up to Edmonton and spend time with Rachelle & Dana who is in the hospital recovering from brain cancer. It turned out that Rachelle was able to get Dana out on a day pass and so we took him to Bernie's trailer at the lake. That man has gone from XLarge clothing to a man's size small golf shirt and 32" waisted pants. Both bouts of cancer have taken a toll on his body. However one good thing was that his thought process was much better than it has been in previous visits. God works through people in so many different ways, that it is a marvel to see what he can do for some. I pray that Dana's radiation treatments will go okay and give him the pressure release on the brain that he so desperately needs. I pray that Rachelle receives good news tomorrow and that we have Dana around for many, many more years to come. We have just been so blessed with both of them as family members and such great friends. We pray for strength and endurance for Rachelle in the event that she has to make some tough decisions about Dana's next couple of months...may God give her wisdom, patience and most of all support to know that she is making all the right decisions based on Dana's needs at this time. God has shown me such power in so many people that have been living with this awful cancer sickness. He does have a plan for each of us and may I be able to live with my plan should this be his way for me or those close to me.

Summer is half gone!

Hard to believe that today is July 25th - the end of July is near, but then the other way to look at this date is that we are only 5 months till Christmas. Not sure which is the worst scenario!
My uncle is still in ICU with thoughts that verbally don't make sense, but his motor skills are getting better. Jack and I are hoping to do the Company golf trip to Hardisty tomorrow and then after church on Sunday drive up to Edmonton to have a quick visit. Good to be only a couple of hours away.
I met Nicole's new "man" and was most impressed. He seems to be a good, kind hearted man and should be a good match for her. His father passed away four years ago with a brain tumor so some things in common with our family. He sold his house in SE Calgary when his dad was first diagnosed, so that he could move back into the family home to care for him. When his dad got really bad he quit his job to give him 100% care...now that's the kind of guy I want my daughter dating. Someone that gives 110%to family, to give them support and much needed love and attention during there remaining time on earth. I know that I have that with Jack as I am reminded by many of our friends about how spoiled I am with him driving me places. And I know that sometimes I have to ask to just be able to drive myself somewhere, but in the end it shows how committed he is to me and our relationship.
I think about my daughters and how they find companions for life when they don't attend a "church" but I know that in their hearts they believe in God. I wanted them to marry "Godly" men but really what is that? I know "Godly" people go to church but does that make them better than non-churched people? I know some "Godly" people that attend church but I wouldn't trust them with my daughters or others that I don't want in my life as they wear two faces. It's sad to look at people that way and wonder what and if they are committed to believing in God and yet do they wear two faces?
Life is interesting when you can look at your kids and see how they mature and process everyday questions. I know that I have raised good kids that will rationalize there own lives with questions as to what/where/when/why and hopefully they will become closer to each other and then to God as a couple. I pray that in time they will see that he is needed in their lives to help round them out as a person. As I know what God has given me and shown me to be a better person in this lifetime. God has helped me feel secure and able to share with others and give from the heart. He has blessed me with finding a man that gives from his heart, not only to me but to others as well. God has blessed Jack & I to realize how hard a marriage can be if you don't work on it and yet when the kids leave the nest, God has shown us that we still can't take things for granted. That we must follow the bible and believe in God firstly and then have the belief in our marriage to make it stronger by working together as one!

Prayerful Times

How many times a day do we pray to God for things? Things that aren't even important or relevent? I have my dear Uncle Dana fighting for his life with a massive brain tumor and I guess that's what I should of been using my prayer time for and not little things such as, I hope I've bought enough food for the VBS wind up, and I hope and pray that the baby shower will have lots of folks staying to Welcome a new member on Sunday or the baby shower that I'm cooking for on Monday - I hope that the food will be enough and that the ladies will like it? What - are you kidding me - that isn't what prayers I should be concerned with? Who helps us determine what prayers we should be asking for from God? Or how many prayers should each person be entitled to? When will we know that we have exceeded our prayer quota or is there such a thing? So many questions that need answers, but the main question is will my Uncle live to see the rest of this week or next week or even next month. And if he comes through radiation or surgery, will he be the same Uncle that he has always been. I know that ONLY GOD can answer that. I pray hard and feverishly that God will continue to watch over him and his family and all the doctors that are working on his case. I pray that he will be saved for many more years to come. I pray that prayer is all that is needed and that I haven't used up all my quota as I have many more prayers that I need answers for. I trust in God and I trust that believing in God is what makes us continue to pray...very much like a circle with no end just a continuous circle of going around, and around.