thankful for my "above average Joe"

The other day - I saw something in the paper, actually it was the "free" paper - the Metro - that we get pretty much everywhere.  It can be found at my workplace, at the bus stops, at Subway Restaurants, in the malls ... pretty much all over the place.  And it is free!  (not much is free anymore).  Anyhow - the other day, as I was eating lunch at work, I came across an article in the Metro, and it was titled "above average Joe" and at the end of the article, Kerri Salki (who is part of the Joe Show with Kerri and Bubba on 102.3 ClearFM from 5:30 am to 9 am) says "Just because they're not famous doesn't mean they're not a somebody.  If you know an Above Average Joe that you think needs recognition email me at ...

SO I did.  YES, I was the one who suggested that my sweet man, was an "above average Joe" and YES I am pretty proud of him!  So, the long and the short of it - she emailed me some questions that Alvin needed to answer.  I typed his answers (since I do type a little faster than him, although he tells me that now, when he does his two fingered report writing on the computer, he is pretty fast, and sometimes crosses over with his two fingers onto other keys!! )  

Last Thursday, there it was in the Metro - the story about my sweet Man.  The title was "Firefighter Builds Homes, Relationships".  I was not sure how he was going to react to being "recognized" but seeing as how there was nothing embarassing in there - he was actually quite okay with it.

You see ... I just thought that it WAS time that somehow I recognized this man, who has been a gift to me for the last 38 years that we have been in love (38 when we met, and 34 since we married!)  At this point in our journey, my above average Joe (Alvin) is one tired guy.  We are trying to figure out how to get a rhythm that includes REST in it.  I think he actually only knows two speeds (much like his mom and dad) and I tease him that as soon as his feet go up (in the lazy boy chair) his eyelids close!  

This weekend we did take some time (after planting some trees) to just hang out and do some impromptu time with friends (whom we are so thankful for!).  We walked in Bird's Hill park with Kim and Kevin and then had a great supper at Pineridge Hollow.  
On Saturday we had a great supper with Willy and Betty and then cruised in the convertibles through Birds Hill Park again, and ended off with a drive to have coffee in Selkirk.  Today we got to visit with friends within our church community at Eastview Community Church, and then had TWO impromptu visits back to back with Sue and Graeme, and then John and Toni.  (Just love the fact that our friends actually take us up when we say, "If you are every driving by, just drop in!")  We ended off just a little while ago with an impromptu supper with our "adopted" son Mike F and his son Marcus who were here with Alvin, planting some seed in the back. (Mike is not really adopted by us - I just keep teasing him that I am going to adopt him as my son!) 

I am just sitting here now - with dishes done (mostly) and thinking about my visit with Mr. Pillow shortly, and I am just so so SO thankful for the life we have - for my faith in Jesus Christ - for my family - for my friends and especially for my above average Joe - Alvin.
This has been a real good weekend - and I am thankful.  Just a few pics to share of the weekend!  Now this girl is heading off to bed.  Night.  Tomorrow is another new day!

a picture I took of the article

yep, that's my guy

not just cousins to me, but FRIENDS ... love these 2

just realize it was quite the look I was sporting that day - with my runners!
me and my sweet man!

one more beautiful prairie sunset!

and the moon...

gotta love this guy!

overflowing

Life has been full lately - and so it is, that as I drive - I find my self savouring each moment of thought that I have all to myself.  Often the radio is on, but I couldn't tell you the words to the tune if my life depended on it, let alone the tune that just played.  It is sort of like keeping the TV on when you are home - just for background noise.

I have been working alot - and I have found that it has completely "upset the proverbial apple cart" so to speak.  All of the things that I want/need/have to do ... all of those things are coming in as secondary.  I get up - leave - come home - do the basics, and then head off to bed only to repeat in the morning.
I will admit that I am tired.  I think my life - with its overflowingness (I know it is not a real word) but that is how I feel.  OVERFLOWINGNESS!!

SO ... when I drive - I love the quiet - I love that the trip in is a journey that I do daily.  Me and God with some tunes in the background.

I am so glad that even when I am tired - that He is NOT - and that it is in HIS STRENGTH that I continue on - day in, day out.   My journey through life - exhausting/exhilarating all wrapped up into one.  And some days - that old gravel road I walked in Anola brings back fond memories, but the paved highway I travel now - is making new ones!

an attack from the devil!

HE WILL NOT WIN!!

Because our God

 is BIGGER!!

Today I got home and found out that my daughters had been looking for me/texting me.  I called Ashley after I had read Leah's text, and had checked our ministry website.  Apparently it was taken over by someone/something and what we found was nothing short of appalling. What I found made me so angry - and sad at what is in the world.

Immediately, the verse from 1 Peter 5:8 came to me - as I was on the phone with Ashley who had been trying hard to get an answer (of course, there is never a contact number to call if you need it).  

SO there are two things - PLEASE go to our OLD SITE:

www.womenrefreshed.blogspot.com

AND please redirect anyone you know who also should know.

Please also pray that we can make arrangements to get a proper website, one that can never be tampered with, up and running.

We know that Satan looks for any foothold he can get - and obviously - he thinks he has found one, but OUR GOD is way bigger!!  I guess we have his attention - and he doesn't like that the ministry Women Refreshed at the Well

is moving ahead!!  

1 Peter 5:8

New International Version (NIV)

⁸ Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

doing the Noah-thing

Noah & Mrs. Noah, and family
One day in heaven, maybe the four of us will sit down over a great cup of coffee
Noah and his wife, Alvin and I.
Will we do those things in heaven?
I certainly hope so, because I have alto of things I want to ask people.
Like Noah for instance
I am feeling more and more, like I have a lot in common with him.
And maybe the four of us can exchange notes on "The Big Build"
Noah - you know, he built the ark.  Not just any ark, but THE ark!
The one that is talked about in the Bible.
Sometimes I tell people that we (Alvin and I) are doing the "Noah thing"

Here is what I mean.
Noah.
He must have been quite the man - a man of God
because no where do I read, in the account from the Word of God,
no where does it say that Noah puts up a fuss,
or questions God.
he is just simply O-B-E-D-I-E-N-T
and in Genesis 6:22 it says that "Noah did everything that God told him to do!" (exclamation is mine)

Noah
Did
Everything
that
God
told
him
to
do

EVERYTHING

God gave Noah the plan ~ measurements and all
God gave Noah the instructions about taking his family and also about the animals to take on board
Now, I have heard this story over and over and over
And every time I see a rainbow I remember again.
It was a favorite Sunday School story.

It was not just a normal thing to do - building an ark on DRY LAND.  And I sometimes wonder if Noah ever sighed or breathed heavily or wondered aloud "God, are you SURE you have the right person for this job?"
No doubt people asked lots of questions.
No doubt people teased him and jeered (he must have looked like a crazy person building this huge thing)
God asked him to do it - because GOD had the plan - the world had gotten so evil.  And God was sending a flood.

The plan, GOD's PLAN - was way bigger than the ark - but it included Noah, who was a man of integrity and walked with God.

I would like to ask Noah just how he felt - day in and day out - building this big thing because God told him to.
I would like to ask Noah if he just got plain tired from doing the job.
I would like to ask Noah if he would do it again, the same way.
I would like to ask Noah how he handled the on-lookers, the critics and those who perhaps doubted that he had really heard from God.
I would also like to ask him about the encouragement that he got along the way!

Obedience is costly.
And obedience is never easy.
But one thing about it - when God says something, you just have to listen.

I think that often we feel like we are doing the Noah thing for a number of reasons -

• God gave a plan or a "vision" as we call it, and entrusted it to me/us
• He called us to start something that is not a common thing - a retreat bed and breakfast?  (which is why it is ongoing to try to help people understand just what its purpose is and who it is intended for
• Alvin has been working on some aspect of the build (first the barn/shop/loft and now the house, for 2 years.  (honestly, I do not know where the time has gone because it does not seem like two years)  And he likely won't readily admit it but I will for him. he is looking forward to the end!
• Noah had the backing/support/help of his wife and family.  Alvin and I have that as well.  It was our son and daughter-in-law (Josh and Leah) who gave us the idea of selling Anola, to buy and build on Henderson.  Our kids - from the start - believed in what I heard God call me/us to, and are totally supportive of this Vision from God.

Noah - it does not say a bunch about him, but I figure he must have been quite the man!  Because - building something so big, is not for wimps.  Neither is standing up to the pressure of the public - watching, waiting, doubting, encouraging - all of it.  I know, because I stand alongside of "my" Noah, and see how, if it were not for the strength given from God - Alvin would not be able to do this huge build.  Noah - must have chipped away on it - until it was time to shut the door.  Alvin is chipping away on it too (along with the help of our boys) and will do so until it is time to "OPEN" the door.

And for now - I will continue to encourage, walk alongside, make meals for, run errands, and whatever else needs to be done until such time as we are done.  I will also look forward to that great cup of coffee in heaven - when we get to chat.  Then again, at that point - maybe I won't even want to know just how he got the job done and stayed sane!  

As God was the God of Noah - He is also our God today.  

He gives strength to those who need it, whether it is past, or present or future.

He called - we obeyed.

He gave the plan - we are building the plan.

It's not an ark, but it is a house bigger than we EVER intended to build at this age! (when we are actually closer to retirement age!)

Funny how God changes things up!

4 years - Yet I will praise you Lord

one day last summer, I was thinking about Jay.  I looked out of the cottage door,
and could see a "J" in the trees.  Alvin went and looked to see what it was and found
that this branch had made a perfect "J".   Just another kiss from God
to remind me that He knows all about us, our journey, our little Jay.
Was one of those "kisses" from God that I love getting.

Today is our little Jay Benjamin's birth day.  4 years ago today, just after 12 noon, Jay was born into this world.  He was born silently.  And our world came crashing down.  Our hearts shattered into a million pieces.  Our lives changed forever.

Sometimes the 4 years seems like 4 years since we held him.  But mostly it seems like yesterday, and when I think about it, I can vividly see/hear/and feel the grief that literally seized us.  At the time it felt like we just had to get past this hour, this night, this day.  I remember the way my eyes felt from crying so much.  I remember feeling like something had ripped my heart out of my chest.  I remember walking that dusty gravel road and weeping.

One look at his pictures (again, thank you so much Jeremy) and you can see that he was fearfully and wonderfully made - and absolutely perfect.  As Josh and Leah have had their next two sons, I can not help but wonder how much they would look alike.  They are all such beautiful children.  I think, as I look at Ev and Rogie - that they would all have looked very very much like brothers.  Imagine - three boys in one family.

Today a few people connected with us - some via email, some via facebook, some via phonecall.  Somehow, it is so meaningful to us, to know that other people remember our Jay too, even if they never met him.  It is so meaningful to us, to know that other people still grieve our loss with us.  It is so meaningful to know that people love us enough to get into our space again, and to ask the question, knowing that we may have a hard answer ... "how are you doing today".  Thank you for sharing our journey - our loss with us.  We are carried by you still.

I know that my grandson - I will see him again.  I know that Jay is having the time of his life in Heaven.  But man alive, I wish he was here with us.  I know that God is sovereign, and that He has a plan for each of us, and He had the plan for my grandson.  I don't understand it, and well, likely never will - until I get to Heaven - but I believe that God is in control.  He alone is Sovereign.
So until I get to Heaven - I will continue to miss my firstborn Grandson.  I will continue to look at his pictures and let the tears roll.  I will continue to correct people and say, "I have THREE grandsons, one in heaven and two here with us."

Jay Benjamin Klassen - absolutely beautiful - absolutely perfect - absolutely loved!
I miss you so so so terribly much.
I love you little one!
-Granny


thanks again to Jer for taking such beautiful pictures of our Sweet Jay, if you want to see them again, just click on the underlined sentence, I love to share these beautiful pictures with you.  He was so very beautiful!

completely oblivious

This morning, slightly after 8 am, I got on my bike and took a ride. Bike riding normally comes easily to most people.  I have to admit that I am just re-entering the bike riding world.  I got a sweet cruiser type of bike from my kids and husband for mother's day.  A nice baby blue one - with a basket on it.
They say bike riding is something that you never lose.  I got re-introduced to bike riding last summer, when our family all got on bikes at the cottage to go for a ride together.  Well - I promplty fell not even 5 minutes after I got on the thing!  NOT HAPPY.  But I dusted myself off, wimpered a bit at the bleeding scrapes I got, but was determined that I WOULD RIDE!!  The week later I went for another ride by myself, and after riding for about 20 minutes - I fell trying to muster energy to get up a hill.  I felt so stupid but was glad that I was alone, only to get up and once again and brush myself off.  That was when I looked behind me and noticed this older man looking at me - and asking if I was okay.  How do you say yes, for the most part - except for my pride!! lol

Anyhow, with helmut securely on, I venture out on Henderson Hwy - and actually like the feeling of the wind in my hair!

So it was this morning.  At 8 am there was hardly any traffic.  There were a few "hard core" bikers and I felt quite special that they would nod to me/smile/wave as they drove by.  I wondered what they thought seeing me on my baby blue with basket!!

I loved the quiet.  I pedalled and took in the breeze, and the singing birds.  I loved the smells of early morning, and the sight of all the daisies in the fields.  Just a little ahead of me - I noticed someone walking towards me with a dog. I was driving on the shoulder GOING the same way as the traffic and she was walking AGAINST traffic which meant that one of us had to give.  SO, being the "vehicle" I figured I would.   I pulled out far enough in advance.  I pedalled closer to her.  I went by and said hi.
Thing is she NEVER even looked up, we NEVER made eye contact, she was wearing ear plugs.  The thing I noticed even more so however was the dour look on her face.
(I just read that word this morning prior to my ride - and thought it suited her to a T!)

I drove by, and went back onto the shoulder and felt like I had just witnessed an object lesson at her expense.  I could not help but think that she missed something.  NOT THAT I AM SO IMPORTANT but my goodness, to not even look up when someone pulls around you to pass.  I get that she was walking with earphones (so she could not hear me), I get that she likely doesn't LIKE to walk but has to because she has a dog! But what I don't get is that someone does not even lift their eyes up to see!

And it was like God used this to speak to me - about the times when my own stuff blinds me to all that He wants to show me.  When my own stuff PLUGS my ears so that I don't hear Him speaking.  About the times when I just am so preoccupied with my own walk that I am missing out on everything that is moving past me!  It made me sad for her.  BUT it made me sad for those times when I am just so preoccupied with my own self that there is no room for anything else.

I don't want to be so deaf.  I don't want to be so blind.  I don't want to be so preoccupied.
I don't want to miss out on all that God has for me NOW - today - in this moment.  I really want to live life fully - to embrace it fully - and live in the moment - aware of HIS goodness, presence and grace and love around me.  I do not want to be COMPLETELY OBLIVIOUS.

O Lord, please help me to walk with an awareness of YOU in every part of my day!  This is my prayer Lord.  Amen.

dour  (dr, dour) adj. dour·er, dour·est 1. Marked by sternness or harshness; forbidding: a dour, self-sacrificing life. 2. Silently ill-humored; gloomy: the proverbially dour New England Puritan. 3. Sternly obstinate; unyielding: a dour determination.

waiting

The other day I took a picture of our Everett - our sweet little grandson who is 2 1/2.  We actually took him out to the lake with us because we were watching him while his mom, dad and baby Roger went to a wedding.  When we got to the cottage - it was rainy.  Ev really wanted to go on the boat and Poppa was working hard to try to get things done so that we could go out if it got sunny.  Ev had an afternoon nap, and woke up expecting to finally be able to go on the boat since the sun was now shining.

Unfortunately, there were a couple unexpected things - flat tire on the tractor (which pulls the boat into the Lake) and the worst thing was a battery that was not holding a charge.  SAD.  

So after Everett waited (very patiently for a little guy) Poppa told him to come and sit in the boat at least, even if we weren't going to get out into the water!  Everett was really happy with that!  He didn't seem to mind that we weren't going anywhere!

When I looked at the pictures I took and have put here - they made me smile.  

Have you ever thought about the time you spend just WAITING.

W-A-I-T-I-N-G

Let's see, looking back at just today:

I waited for the alarm clock to go off after I hit it once (securing me 7 more minutes before I had to get up out of bed.)

I waited for water to boil for Alvin's porridge (although I could not wait for the whole thing, so I had to turn the almost boiling water off and let him do it himself when he got up)

I waited at the end of our driveway for it to be clear to turn onto Henderson Hwy.

I waited for a few lights on the way to work.

I waited outside of my co-worker's house - as I was picking her up to take her to work this morning.

I waited at Tim Horton's

I waited for ...  well, you see.

We spend alot of time WAITING.

Sometimes I daydream while I wait. (at lights for instance)

Sometimes I get impatient.

Sometimes I just love people watching.

Sometimes I sing

Sometimes I look at my time, and worry that I have waited too long!

When I looked at the picture of our little grandson, it reminded me about how God has asked me/made me wait.  Not just once in my life.  Not twice.  Not even OFTEN.  He has had me waiting ALOT.

Sometimes the wait is short.  Sometimes it is like it takes forever.  Sometimes I actually forget I am waiting and just carry on with life - and then realize hey - the wait is over!!

It was like that when God entrusted me with the vision for Women refreshed at the Well back in 2000.

Yep - it was 8.5 years before He said - "get the ball rolling now"

WAITING.

WAITING.

WAITING.

Back in 2004 I had a friend who asked me why I just didn't get going - and look for a place to start the ministry in.  (No, it wasn't time)

Back in 2007 I began to feel that God was doing something and beginning to shake me up. (still wasn't time)

Then in 2008 - He said that it was the time.

In some ways - 4 years later - we are still waiting on some things - but we are seeing the progress.

Waiting is hard at times.

But when I believe that God is IN the waiting - it is usually much easier to wait patiently.

Lately, as I have been in the beginning pages of a book title Your Ears Will Hear by Steve and Evy Klassen, executive directors of The Mark Center as well as an online email devotional - I was reminded about God who sees us!!  EL ROI.  It is actually a God thing I think that within the last few days - a devotional on the same thing has come to my attention.  El Roi.  I realize today, and over my lifetime - I have come to realize that God DOES see me.  He cares about me.  He loves it when I come to Him with my praises, my thanks, my chatter, my love for him.  But the thing that I love is that HE SEES ME and loves me - quirky, messy, impatient, all of it!! He sees and loves ME.

When I am impatient in my waiting - HE is patient with me.

HE SEES ME WAITING!!

So, like our little Ev - I will carry on, doing what I can do for Him, and trying to patiently wait along this journey.  It is a journey - that is for sure!  I can wait some more - because I know at the end of the waiting - I will see where HE has been so present in my life.  And that alone makes the WAITING such an exciting part of this journey!