Broken dreams and wounded heart all have been a part of me.
Weariness and loneliness – through the night I could not see.
Then there flashed a light before me, glowing embers in the night,
Left by hearts once feeling sadness, now with friends were burning bright.
Holding torches as they walked along, through the valley of despair,
Expressing their support and love, and showing others that they cared.
Onward, upward they had climbed, step by step along the way,
Expressing their support and love, showed to others that they cared.
God had given strength and courage when the nights were dark and cold
Wrapped His loving arms around them, one by one their courage told.
Feeling grateful at that moment for the hope I have today,
I let the light shine through the darkness gently guide along the way.
Caring words like gentle rain quenches every thirsty soul,
Sharing hope and faith with others - hearts that longed to feel whole.
Contributed by Melody Hickson.
The power of God's love is sweet,
When both heart and maker meet.
SBD
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
THE DANCE
I have invited my grandson and his friends to a dance and although he is suspicious he doesn’t elaborate as he invites friends to come to grandma’s house and learn a new dance that is called the “high stepping dance.” The invitees know that as long as Luke is there it will be a fun party and he makes sure there are several muscle men with healthy backs to first demonstrate the intricate dance steps. He tells the men they can come to the party straight from work since no costumes are required, but there may be surprises.
Evelyn, a good friend (a realtor with Century 21, with whom I have my condo listed) gets her husband to check each paint job done for her clients. My condo looks so nice with the new paint everywhere I want to move back in but my doctor recommends I take a break, reduce my volunteer work and learn about proper retirement for when I reach 90 in a couple of years. Dressed in jeans with her cell phone in her pocket Evelyn is ready for both work and play.
The high stepping movements continue on after supper and through the evening. The hostess announces closing time around ten PM and brings out the surprise that tells us it is time for the draw and we find out everyone has won a prize - a couple of pictures on bills of a member of the Royal family. “Pie in the sky – in the sweet bye and bye” is nice but with soaring food prices and so many other needs raising a growing family it is also nice to get a little pie on Earth also. My realtor friend had slipped away a little ahead of time to take care of business. There are many ways to reward the work of willing hands. After all we are all responsible for supplying the pensions of our government officials to keep Canada strong and debt free. I am still stepping around boxes and determining where their contents should best be placed while practicing the new dance. Thanks to everyone who came.
Evelyn, a good friend (a realtor with Century 21, with whom I have my condo listed) gets her husband to check each paint job done for her clients. My condo looks so nice with the new paint everywhere I want to move back in but my doctor recommends I take a break, reduce my volunteer work and learn about proper retirement for when I reach 90 in a couple of years. Dressed in jeans with her cell phone in her pocket Evelyn is ready for both work and play.
The high stepping movements continue on after supper and through the evening. The hostess announces closing time around ten PM and brings out the surprise that tells us it is time for the draw and we find out everyone has won a prize - a couple of pictures on bills of a member of the Royal family. “Pie in the sky – in the sweet bye and bye” is nice but with soaring food prices and so many other needs raising a growing family it is also nice to get a little pie on Earth also. My realtor friend had slipped away a little ahead of time to take care of business. There are many ways to reward the work of willing hands. After all we are all responsible for supplying the pensions of our government officials to keep Canada strong and debt free. I am still stepping around boxes and determining where their contents should best be placed while practicing the new dance. Thanks to everyone who came.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
IS THIS A CRIME SCENE?
A full page ad appears in a Canadian magazine with the above title. A half page picture shows a white haired lady studying a multi-paged file. A young man is seated shoulder to shoulder with her with pen in hand, obviously waiting for her to sign a document.
The bottom half of the page explains as follows: ELDER ABUSE: It’s time to face the reality: “No one should ever be pressured, forced or tricked into giving money – even to loved ones. If someone you trust is taking advantage of you, help is out there. Learn the signs of financial abuse to protect yourself and the people you love.”
To find out more from the Government of Canada about preventing elder abuse, visit http://www.seniors.gc.ca/, or call 1-800-O-Canada (l-800-622-6232)
TTY: 1800-926-9105.
It is signed with the red Maple Leaf flag, Government of Canada and appears in the magazine GOOD TIMES, December 2010 issue.
The bottom half of the page explains as follows: ELDER ABUSE: It’s time to face the reality: “No one should ever be pressured, forced or tricked into giving money – even to loved ones. If someone you trust is taking advantage of you, help is out there. Learn the signs of financial abuse to protect yourself and the people you love.”
To find out more from the Government of Canada about preventing elder abuse, visit http://www.seniors.gc.ca/, or call 1-800-O-Canada (l-800-622-6232)
TTY: 1800-926-9105.
It is signed with the red Maple Leaf flag, Government of Canada and appears in the magazine GOOD TIMES, December 2010 issue.
Monday, June 20, 2011
THE ICE HIGHWAY
Here at Carrington there are so many new faces from so many places in Canada, and so many new experiences to hear about and coax stories from residents about the early days of our great country. I have learned more about the ice roads in Canada’s north and how to test them for safety. Of course last winter’s ice roads have melted now as the summer season has arrived.
As we were waiting in line to vote here at Carrington I asked this question of the man behind me, who was seated in his indoor fancy rolling wheels, to tell me how they tested the ice roads for safety. One year the tree fellers had more than 20 road-ready trucks loaded with some of the winter’s take of downed trees. Their motors were revved up and slowly moved ahead as the ice road was being tested. The hope is that the ice is solid enough to hold the heavily loaded trucks with space for safety between them.
Before freeze up in the fall, the valley of the planned ice road had been filled with branches and tree roots unsuitable for the lumber mill to use. Our man took the lead truck followed by 20 others and began to move ahead and be ready for the safe signal to be called. The first three trucks were his own. The driver must watch the floor of his truck carefully to determine if there is any sign of moisture seeping through the crack at the bottom of the door. He must be ready at all times to instantly open the door and exit. Once the cab of the truck starts to fill, the pressure of the water soon prevents the door from being opened and the driver cannot escape. Meanwhile his helper is trying to pull at any reachable branch to determine the depth and strength of the road. In the melee the helper broke his leg. The driver has escaped and sees his once-powerful assistant down with the broken leg hanging by the skin and flesh at a right angle. We can only imagine what words must have split the early morning air as the driver shoved the leg back in its place, stopped the bleeding with an improvised hand made bandage and headed for the nearest hospital at Prince George. With time the injured man survived. Aside from acquiring a permanent limp he was able to return to work the next year. We ponder about global warming and trust our officials have a plan in place to fill this need. Perhaps with ferries or dog teams to replace the the ice roads of the north. Thanks Mr. Chapple for telling us about your experiences.
As we were waiting in line to vote here at Carrington I asked this question of the man behind me, who was seated in his indoor fancy rolling wheels, to tell me how they tested the ice roads for safety. One year the tree fellers had more than 20 road-ready trucks loaded with some of the winter’s take of downed trees. Their motors were revved up and slowly moved ahead as the ice road was being tested. The hope is that the ice is solid enough to hold the heavily loaded trucks with space for safety between them.
Before freeze up in the fall, the valley of the planned ice road had been filled with branches and tree roots unsuitable for the lumber mill to use. Our man took the lead truck followed by 20 others and began to move ahead and be ready for the safe signal to be called. The first three trucks were his own. The driver must watch the floor of his truck carefully to determine if there is any sign of moisture seeping through the crack at the bottom of the door. He must be ready at all times to instantly open the door and exit. Once the cab of the truck starts to fill, the pressure of the water soon prevents the door from being opened and the driver cannot escape. Meanwhile his helper is trying to pull at any reachable branch to determine the depth and strength of the road. In the melee the helper broke his leg. The driver has escaped and sees his once-powerful assistant down with the broken leg hanging by the skin and flesh at a right angle. We can only imagine what words must have split the early morning air as the driver shoved the leg back in its place, stopped the bleeding with an improvised hand made bandage and headed for the nearest hospital at Prince George. With time the injured man survived. Aside from acquiring a permanent limp he was able to return to work the next year. We ponder about global warming and trust our officials have a plan in place to fill this need. Perhaps with ferries or dog teams to replace the the ice roads of the north. Thanks Mr. Chapple for telling us about your experiences.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
WEAPONS THAT SILENTLY FIGHT FOR YOU
Once salt was more valuable per ounce than gold, but now we seem to be getting too much of it in our foods and medical doctors are even recommending the salt shaker be removed from the table. According to research done at the University of Illinois, a new memory builder and topping the list of flavouring for many foods may even be growing in your back yard and is presently much cheaper than gold. Known as Turmeric that is a key ingredient in curry, it regulates immune cells in the brain called microglia. As we age, brain cells begin overproducing inflammatory chemicals that can cause forgetfulness and even forgetting the names of family members. Adults who have trouble recalling words and names can help themselves by feeding the body more of these simple garden vegetables, and herbs that help ward off many diseases, says Rod Johnson, PhD.
Turmeric, a key ingredient of Curry helps ward off the growth of cancer, particularly colon cancer cells and may even reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. A new study shows that it could also help prevent and heal a type of fatty liver disease that can lead to cirrhosis. It can be added to lentil soup, sprinkled on scrambled eggs, roasted sweet potatoes or chicken salad for a dash of extra zing. Turmeric may have been one of the spices that may have been the delicious flavour that added the extra zing to the entrée at our dinner meal today. Everyone at our foursome table was commenting on how absolutely delicious it was and wondered what spices had been used.
Turmeric, a key ingredient of Curry helps ward off the growth of cancer, particularly colon cancer cells and may even reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. A new study shows that it could also help prevent and heal a type of fatty liver disease that can lead to cirrhosis. It can be added to lentil soup, sprinkled on scrambled eggs, roasted sweet potatoes or chicken salad for a dash of extra zing. Turmeric may have been one of the spices that may have been the delicious flavour that added the extra zing to the entrée at our dinner meal today. Everyone at our foursome table was commenting on how absolutely delicious it was and wondered what spices had been used.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
NEW WAYS TO BEAT BLOAT
· If dairy makes you bloated, you may have developed lactose intolerance. Try lower lactose foods (like yogurt or hard cheese) or lactose free dairy products or take a lactose enzyme.
· Pick fruits carefully. Berries, grapes, and citrus contain a near equal ratio of the sugars, fructose and glucose, making them easier to digest than fruits with more fructose such as honeydew, or pears.
· Switch your starch. If fructose rich wheat, rye or barley is behind your bloat, choose stomach-friendly rice, corn, oats or potatoes. When potatoes are baked or cooked with the skin still on, the value is still intact since the vitamins are located next to the skin. The interior of the potato is a storage place for moisture to support its brown jacket that protects the sprout.
· Skip fake sugars: Sorbitol, xylitol, and mannitol are sugar alcohols found in diet sodas and sugar-free gum. Avoid these or opt for products made with stevia or aspartame instead.
· Pick fruits carefully. Berries, grapes, and citrus contain a near equal ratio of the sugars, fructose and glucose, making them easier to digest than fruits with more fructose such as honeydew, or pears.
· Switch your starch. If fructose rich wheat, rye or barley is behind your bloat, choose stomach-friendly rice, corn, oats or potatoes. When potatoes are baked or cooked with the skin still on, the value is still intact since the vitamins are located next to the skin. The interior of the potato is a storage place for moisture to support its brown jacket that protects the sprout.
· Skip fake sugars: Sorbitol, xylitol, and mannitol are sugar alcohols found in diet sodas and sugar-free gum. Avoid these or opt for products made with stevia or aspartame instead.
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