Your welcome if....

This jumped out at me today...

Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit." The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? "I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds" (Jeremiah 17:5-10).

Say What???

Wow...I can't believe that Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize! If it was a year & 8 months into his term and his speeches had actually turned into action & things were improving, then yes, I could see the reason. But as of right now, he is just a great speaker. I will however, remain hopeful that his actions will line up with his words and we can work towards peaceful resolutions that actually work.

How Deep the Father's Love

Love this song.

We must be the change
we wish to see.
- Mohandas K. Gandhi

After A While

Just had to share this again....


After a while you learn
the subtle difference between
holding a hand and chaining a soul
and you learn
that love doesn't mean leaning
and company doesn't always mean security.
And you begin to learn
that kisses aren't contracts
and presents aren't promises
and you begin to accept your defeats
with your head up and your eyes ahead
with the grace of woman, not the grief of a child
and you learn
to build all your roads on today
because tomorrow's ground is
too uncertain for plans
and futures have a way of falling down
in mid-flight.
After a while you learn
that even sunshine burns
if you get too much
so you plant your own garden
and decorate your own soul
instead of waiting for someone
to bring you flowers.
And you learn that you really can endure
you really are strong
you really do have worth
and you learn
and you learn with every goodbye, you learn...

by Veronica A. Shoffstall

Ella on her first and last day of Kindergarten

There is no way to express my relief that our first year of school is over for all four of my kids! I welcome this summer vacation more than any other....ever! I could not have made one more lunch, one more breakfast, or school project! Can't wait for camping, beaches, bbq's, a family wedding, Canada Day, & camping with family!

                                                        First day of kindergarten!

                                                         Last day of Kindergarten!

CBC Sunday Morning

What a sad Sunday morning this is...in our governments infinite wisdom, they have cancelled one of the best news shows on television. This show had become my Sunday morning church, my opportunity to connect with amazing people all over Canada and the world, to share in their joy and sadness.

Sadly, because of the huge debts and cutbacks, this show became a sacrificial lamb. What a loss for Canada. In this day and age of one sided reporting, this show focused on the people and never tried to slant their view point.

“Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow.”

Mary Anne Radmacher

answer me...

artist marten jansen

Salma Hayek Breastfeeding An African Baby Boy

Salma Hayek let “Nightline” and Cynthia McFadden follow her on a goodwill trip to Sierra Leone a few months ago, and while there she breastfeed a newborn baby boy whose mother had no milk.

Salma’s own daughter, Valentina, turned one just before she took the trip.

She spoke of the incident recently, and it turns out “Nightline” aired video of the feeding.

“The baby was perfectly healthy, but the mother didn’t have milk. He was very hungry. I was weaning Valentina, but I still had a lot of milk that I was pumping, so I breast-fed the baby. You should have seen his eyes. When he felt the nourishment, he immediately stopped crying.”

That is so beautiful!

“While women weep, as they do now, I'll fight; while children go hungry, as they do now I'll fight; while men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I'll fight; while there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I'll fight, I'll fight to the very end!!!” - William Booth, 1912

The Journey

You know, life is a journey..often riddled with detours, ditches and dead ends. However, I have learned that "I" am ultimately responsible for everything that happens...which can be good and bad.

Even when my actions have led to consequences where i rail at the world, rail at God, I know deep down that He is there...allowing the chips to fall, confident that it will end up where it needs to end up, that I, as a child of God, will rise to the occassion no matter how far away he may feel.

Going through hard times are what life is all about. You can't help but appreciate the blessings in your life...

January Whimsy

Alphonsus O'Kane New Zealand

ALPHONSUS O'Kane went to New Zealand over 50 years ago with his friend Jimmy to make a life for himself.

He built a business out of blood, sweat and hard work. Alphonsus married a great woman and had four sons.

When the time was right Alphonsus became the farmer he was meant to be. He went down his own path in life, living by the creed, never one to back down and with Alphonsus there was no such word as can't.

He was a proud New Zealander in the country he chose to make his life, but if there is one thing you learn, being the son of an Irishman, you can never take the Irish out of an Irishman.

Our dad was born a Tyrone man and he died a Tyrone man.

Merry Christmas!

Alone

at peace i stand
alone
feeling the wind
dry my tears

images flash
before my eyes
limp languid loss

my gaze looks outwards
silently i moan
i need more
my soul searches, yearning but never fulfilled.