Wonderful! That’s what my expectation of the upcoming Christmas was to be…for the first time in four years nearly all the family would be together.

It warms my heart during the long Alberta winters, to sit and read stories of deserts and heat.

From my window I look southwest. About 60 feet ahead there is a bend in the road.

Of course I know where it goes. I’ve lived here for over six years. But someone else driving here for the first time may not know.

Beautiful! I say to myself as I gaze out the kitchen window. The Alberta blue skies are lovely, especially outlined by the grace of leafless aspens, and snow-blanketed lawns. It is especially beautiful as today I do NOT have to go out.

Today I introduced some friends to our new library. It’s a long way from the very first library I visited, with its oiled floor and single bulbs hanging on a long strings from the ceiling. I have a deep love for books and the library is one of my favourite places.

I’m having a pretending picnic—actually I have them often. To many people who are now single, mealtimes are the loneliest time of the day. Most of our lives are spent working to buy meals, preparing meals, anticipating meals, eating meals and cleaning up after meals. You don’t think much about it until there are so few meals to prepare.

I’ve done some stupid things in my time but recently I did the stupidest thing I have ever done. I moved some furniture.

Now that’s a title that should capture your attention! I heard that phrase this morning while watching TV. The young lady was describing her relationship with the Lord. She said she loved Him, then she said, “No, I am IN LOVE with Him.”

Sometimes amazing things happen in church. This morning I sat behind a friend. Actually they are all my friends, but this particular one is bravely facing cancer. When the Men’s Choir anthem title was announced she turned to me and said, “I asked them to sing that for me.”

When I was a student (a very long time ago), our art teacher set up some fruit in a basket on his desk. He instructed us to spend our class time trying to capture that image on paper. The next day he tacked the drawings on the wall. How very different each one was.

I’ve owned three dogs; Teddy the first, Teddy the second and Freckles. I loved them all, but oh, the heartache dogs sometimes bring into your life.

I am a bit of a hoarder. Well, really I just keep things I feel I might use sometime in the future. When my girls finally have to clean out this place they are not going to think fondly on this habit that is left over from my early years.

Recently a friend of mine raised some interesting tomatoes…they were a maroon colour.  I asked her if I could have one and perhaps propagate it.  […]

Fear of messing things up has kept me from trying out these new things and I am a bit ashamed, especially when I recall the girl who at 18 took a train across Canada, who at 22 walked onto a ship (a very old ship) with her young husband and tiny baby and sailed to France.

“I’ve got my ring now, Mom; I’m going out east to marry Harry.”

My eyes dropped. I couldn’t bear to look at her face. I knew what I would read there.

My mirror tells me that I am definitely growing older but that doesn’t mean I’ve grown better or wiser. I am still clumsy and tend to wade into discussions where even angels fear to tread.

A number of years ago, when we had a travel agency, my husband had an office photo taken. Our staff consisted of five young ladies and me. I was the “go-for”, the window decorator and not so good at filing our little bookkeeper informed me one day. But we were a great group and my husband loved all of us.

Most seniors have worn so many hats that it is no wonder they are confused. A friend of mine confessed at church coffee time, that at a recent family affair, she was a great-grandma for the first time. It was disconcerting as she kept looking up every time someone said “grandma” and it is her daughter that is now “grandma”.

My late husband was perhaps best known for his enthusiasm and sense of humor. I knew he had a serious side but my friends had sat with him during hockey and football games. They knew he was a noisy spectator and fun to be with.

Every Friday morning I brew about 30 cups of coffee for my Bible study group. I have done this for over five years. A lot of study and a lot of coffee.