KIDS CLUB

Well, the grands are not so little anymore.

Their hands are considerably less chubby.

They speak in paragraphs now and know things I forgot a lifetime ago.

They make jokes...and some of them are even mildly amusing.

I  am no longer the centre of their universe (what? I never was?)

They have school and play dates and practices and not nearly enough Grammy time.

So.......

We have formed a club.

It is very official.

We have membership cards.

Grammy is the treasurer because she buys the books and snacks.

Jerod is the secretary and records the books we read and why we liked them. We take a picture of each book and rate the books with stars..... 

Davis is the social convener. He consults his calendar and  proposes the date and the venue where we will read the new book.

Starbucks is a favourite....gotta love that lemon bread.

So far we have read:

Every book and every venue has received a 3 star rating with Grammy's place getting a 'best ever' for venue (children learn to suck up at quite a young age)

Next month we will be reading:

and in December we will bake our favourites.


Lest you think this is a frivolous organization, we have taken photos to show how serious we are about this.

We have also discussed writing our own book, doing activities mentioned in the books, and eating food the characters eat.

Maybe we will dress up too!

We are having a blast

You may copy us if you like.

BLINGITY-BLING -BLING

Sorry I haven't been in touch lately! Why it must be at least a month or so.

What?

 Seven  months?????????? My stars!!!*******

That's what happens when you are flitting around the globe.

 First it was the Pulitzer for one of the little volumes I wrote last year entitled 'The Art of Exaggeration'

 then the Chelsea Flower Show to introduce my newest hydrangea/delphinium cross

 (requires heavy staking),

 then off to Oslo to see my 7 year-old grandson receive the Nobel for his working lego model of the human body (f**ts on command)

Next I finally baked that white chocolate merinque replica of Buckingham Palace

  the Queen has been begging me for (she ate it at one sitting),

then rushed back to see little 5 year-old Davis cross the finish line at the Boston Marathon

 (he hopped the last 10 kms. to give others a chance)

I had hoped to be in Paris for the debut of my new 'Glitzy Granny' line of jumpsuits (order now and receive a free package of Depends) but there was a cancellation at the Mayo Clinic and I had to hurry back for my brain transplant. ( I performed the surgery on myself which was quite exhausting)

The jury is out on whether or not it was successful.

Ha!

Meanwhile things have slowed down a bit and so I have been fiddling around my townhouse, making little changes.

This is the first place where I have had the luxury of a walk-in closet.

 It sounded so wonderful.

 In truth, it became the graveyard of all things with no real home....

errant Christmas decorations,

 empty boxes (just in case),

 clothes collected over years, slipping off hangers,

 Queen costumes (don't ask), 

luggage,

 odd socks....

you get the picture.

In a moment which can only be described (by me of course) as pure genius, I decided to turn this dark secret blemish into....

wait for it...

A Dressing Room  (cue music)

OOH-LA-LA

I removed the door ( while hubby was out, dragged it away, then told him later......works for me!) and hung silvery curtains....going for a little bling. I bought them at Homesense along with the shimmery little rug.

I had found the vintage stool awhile ago at a thrift store and it is loving its new pride of place.

Tres chic Paris bins hold shoes and jeans.

Hubby (once resucitated) hung the sweet chandelier.

I moved a dresser in from the bedroom, glammed it up with my jewellry box, and a mirrored tray to hold parfum bottles, propped up a mirror,  hung pictures and scarves, coralled purses and foldables in bins, paraded hat boxes.

Removing the door allowed room to hang robes and belts on the side wall.

I pretend I am special now.

Instead of running back and forth between bedroom dresser for undies, to closet for clothes, to dresser for scarf, to bathroom for jewellry, to dresser for socks and belt, having left a trail of nightie and robe and been unable to unearth a coordinating purse ( the horror!) and knocked 3 things off their hangers and been kabonked on the head by a teetering suitcase (soft-sided my foot!).........

sigh!!

I now glide into my new space, hang my nightwear, assemble and change into my complete outfit, pose on my pouf as I select earrings, spritz myself dramatically, select the perfect handbag, bat my eyelashes at my oh-so-clever self reflected in my shimmering mirror and

 swoop into my day.

Hope I run into you. 

You are the real bling in my life!!!

IS IT SO WRONG?

I'm in a quandry.

I succumbed today to the cheery faces of some pink and yellow primulas.

I've seen them out front of stores for a few weeks now, but refused to plant any til the ones in my garden were blooming as well.

.........which they are. 

I drove twice past the garden centre sign that read...

PRIMULAS.....$.95

and then turned in

.....just for a peak mind you.

I was undone.

They whispered, then called me,

quite loudly, 

and then a dozen of them literally jumped into my arms and prevailed upon me to take them home.

How could I possibly say no? 

"Yes", I said. "I will take you home my little darlings. I will promenade you in my front window boxes. I will sprinkle you with rain water. Your perfume will waft over my garden, your frilly dresses adorn.....

or something like that..
.
It's hard to remember exactly...I was so taken.

I just know that when I got home, they were in the trunk of my car.


And the next thing I knew, they were smiling up at me from freshly-tilled dirt.


Oh,

 but back to the quandry.

You see,

I have friends in cold places.

If they wanted to check to see if their primulas were blooming they would have to remove six feet of snow,

that is if they dared to venture out in the sub, sub, sub zero temperatures.


So

is it mean-spirited to post pictures of my pretties?

Probably.

Would it be construed as excessive gloating?

Most likely.

Could they not try to see that I am proffering a glimmer of hope?

Not even a chance.


It's hard to be so misunderstood.



So.............

 don't look if it offends you

but feast your eyes if you'd like a little treat for your winter-weary eyes.

My mini-daffodils are just set to burst open and the hyacinths have big knobby buds, but the tulips will be a while yet. 

They are my spring favourites. I have hubby trained to pick up bunches at the local market to spring up my home and I love to give them as a little gift.

I take some wrapping paper and ribbon with me to the store so they look extra pretty, and I buy little gift books at the thrift store and cut out the cute pictures and embellish them to make sweet gift tags...tres thrifty.


I hope wherever you live that you will soon get to see the miracle of another spring unfurling. 

It always comes.....

eventually,

and perhaps sweeter for the long wait.

A REAL GEM

Are you still out there?

 I just couldn't get it together til now.

(Unrelenting pain kills my brain cells I think)

But now I have something to say and I hope you give me a read.

(If you don't read any further, then please would you log onto my daughter Feona's new website  www.helpthegems.com ?

and make sure to read the blog on the site as well?)

My girl child turned 40 this month! 

Wha-a-a-a-a-a-a-t???????????????

Aside from  the unbelievability, me being on the youngish side myself, my primary feeling has been one of gratitude.... oh and pride....I'll get to that later.

The gratitude goes to Almighty God who allowed me:

the privilege of at last experiencing the joy of motherhood

for giving me strength, wisdom, provision, confidence as a single mom

for the opportunity to point her to Jesus

for the mutual respect, friendship, love and caring we experience

for sparing her life this past year.

But

 Who would have thought

that her heart would grow so big?

that years of heartache and loss would result in the blossoming of something so beautiful?

that she would be able to give voice to the groanings of her heart to establish a vehicle for others to catch her vision for broken children across the ocean

that she sees and knows what  people twice her age haven't even pondered for a moment in their self-focused lives

I am humbled,

I am proud.

When you look at your kids, and wonder

what influence you might have on them, 

what small, selfless little things you can do that they they might take note of,

 if your heartfelt prayers will make any difference

if your constancy and love will give them stability and wings.......

don't give up.

God works in their lives in ways we would never think of.

We would spare them the pain,

give them the world, tied with a ribbon

but 

He knows better;

that hard things bring clarity

propel us to where we would never have gone,

transplants his heart into ours.


Feona, I am so proud of you for answering God's call on your heart,

 for making a choice to make a difference.


You are a precious gem yourself, reflecting the beauty and love of God.


I can't wait to see what he does through you and "Help the Gems."

Like the stars of the morning
His brightness adorning
They shall shine in their beauty
Bright gems for his crown.

                                               Jewels

....HAPPILY EVER AFTER.....

A birthday...

and then

an anniversary.....

and then

 Christmas all in a row! 

I am so blessed.

Many of you know the circumstances of my new marriage 4 years ago. (You can check it out here http://mslucille.blogspot.com/2014/09/real-tears-after-27-years-of-being.html )

The sweet little chapel where we pledged our love

I wrote a gripper of a poem to put on the front of our invitation.

If we'd written the script, we'd have been cherished sooner,
hearts protected,
unrejected.

We would have slept sweeter,
safely nested,
souls rested.

We woud have danced.


But if we' written the script, we'd have foiled the plan,
characters confused,
timeline skewed.

We'd have settled for less,
still hoping,
just coping.

Not much of a dance.



Someone else took the pen; He caught us off guard.
all-knowing.
blessings flowing.

Someone else tilled our hearts,
seeds planted,
dreams granted.

A reason to dance.


We ponder the words He's written, their beauty sates our souls.
ending undeserved,
joy unreserved.

We adore the way it's ended,
no more waiting,
souls mating.

It's time for the dance!

May I have this dance for the rest of my life?

Fallish flowers on the tables (Yes, I did them the morning of the wedding....no stress here!)

Did I mention that I made my living room drapes and pillows from the tablecloths I made for my wedding? (Mrs. Thrifty)

 The best part was having dear friends and family celebrate with us.


Kinda thinking we won't make it to our 50th, but thankful for the time God gives us.

 Life was meant to be shared.

SENIOR DELINQUINT

No.......I haven't passed on. (Please say you would cry!)

 I've been passed out for a few days, but not from excess libation....more like old lady body fatigue. Sorry I haven't been in touch. (I know you missed me??????)

I am now on the government dole having reached the venerable age of 65 on November 1st....All Saints Day (I see you get the connection....ha!)

I feel very young....about 21, I think. My body however has betrayed me in a most sinister manner. I find myself looking to the future with two different views...one where I keep sliding into a more painful, tired, useless, pitiful existence and the other where I embrace my eternal home, glorious in mind and soul and body. I think that will be my focus. That view gives meaning and purpose to my life today and keeps me going.

I am blessed.

And every year I realize it more.

Aside from the fact that my basic needs are met far beyond what is even fathomable by millions around the world, I live with luxury on every hand.

 My Starbucks cup is at the ready. I clutch it in my beautiful deep purple leather gloves gifted to me by my children for my birthday. (Did I mention they were tucked into a matching COACH purse??????????????)

Oh and then a stunning snakeskin wallet inside.

But then inside the wallet, a gift in my name to supply water in Uganda.  They know my heart.

There was also an amazing gift of memories and blessings and sweet nothings written by friends old and new from around the country and cards and a special parcel in the mail and phone calls and birthday lunches and 2 kinds of cake.

Beautiful words....healing to the soul

Sandy and I in the foreseeable future

Beautiful painted rocks from my favourite little boys

The perfect card from my lovely daughter-in-law

A jadeite pedestal from my sweet friend Carol

Judy, my sister came from Nova Scotia to celebrate and shop and talk and eat our way through the week.

We even got to sing at church on Sunday just like we used to do when were small.

Hubby gifted me unmercifully and I am grateful yet embarrassed....... so much after so many years of learning contentment with less.

My favourite thing was getting to spend money on something I wanted and of course I bought the grocery sign. I mean....who wouldn't???

I have decided to have birthdays more often.....well the cake part anyway....minus the additional years.

Talk to you soon.........

THANKSGIVING UNSTUFFED

Does it not strike you as extremely odd that we need to set aside a day to be thankful?

Luxury such as most of us experience is beyond most of the world’s comprehension.

 Being able to provide a meal for one’s family in a third world country is cause for deep satisfaction and gratitude. It takes hard physical labour to source food and extreme patience to cook over a fire with few utensils. There is a ravenous hunger to be satiated by rice and beans yet again.

We on the other hand expect to eat….and often…..but certainly not leftovers. Our palates crave new and different dishes every day….and perhaps something out of season…and then of course, our gourmet coffee in between. If we are feeling tired or just plain lazy or needing to be pampered we hie off to a restaurant of our choice and eat too much and complain about the service. We drive there in one of our cars all toasty with our heaters blasting or cool as cucumbers with our AC cranked up high.

How strangely they would view us, outfitting our dogs in expensive little outfits while their children, flesh of their flesh just like yours and mine go without. How they would gasp while peering into our closets, crammed to the rafters with items we hardly ever wear. How inconceivable that we would complain about doing laundry, when it’s a walk downstairs and the push of a button instead of a 3 mile trek with a heavy load, no detergent and dirty water and then lugging it all home again.

I luxuriate in my hot bubble bath at night, step out onto the heated floor and dry myself with a thick white towel before cozying up under my down quilt tastefully coordinated in colours of my choosing and wonder what it’s like to sleep on the cold hard ground with rain trickling through my make-shift shelter and the sound of mortar shells exploding around me while my children cry because their tummies are screaming from hunger.

For me, morning comes and coffee aroma fills the air with a flip of a switch.  I open and close fridge and cupboards, trying to decide what I want to eat. I have choice. I wander around my home and hear their incredulous accusing voices….”All this for two people?”

We bemoan the fact we are out of bottled water while the purest water in the world cycles through our toilets and dishwashers and washing machines.

Our children go off to school at government expense….It is our right!

We go into retirement supplemented by pension cheques and spare body parts freely dispersed to aid us in living our lives of leisure and ease.

Ours is a land of wide open spaces, untouched by the ravages of war and famine and neglect. Beauty is everywhere and we have the means and resources to travel and enjoy its many wonders.

I will get up and casually drive to my place of worship on Sunday. I will freely lift my voice in song and praise, unafraid and yes, ungrateful. I will take it for granted, perhaps complain at the length of sermon or the choice of song while others around the world demonstrate true devotion as they serve God in the face of imprisonment or death.

The difference between us and them is need versus expectation. When they have a need and it is met they are joyful and grateful. We on the other hand need little but want so much. We have expectations of how our lives should look and so we are often disappointed. Yes, we face tragedy or heartache at times too but we are surprised by it not waiting for the inevitable.

I struggle to understand the favour I have been granted….why God chose to place me in a land of plenty and ease.

I cannot fathom it.

And so I am left with acceptance and a response.

As I prepare for Thanksgiving, decking out my house, preparing my menu, choosing the table settings, creating my clever place cards and lovingly cooking and baking for family, I pause….and this is my prayer….

Lord,

 Cause me to look your way while I bask in the sheer abundance and peace I enjoy today and every day.

Allow me a glimpse into your heart and mind to see both your compassion for those who struggle and your sadness when I voice complaint.

Move my eyes more often to tears.

Open my hands to release the things I hold dear and my pocketbook to bless others.

Move my feet to people and places of your choosing.

Bend my knee in prayer.

Humble me.

Teach me about this thing called Thanksgiving.

REAL TEARS

After 27 years of being a single Mom, I met someone 5 years ago.

The circumstances were somewhat unusual. I was happily content and not looking for a relationship.

One day, I was busy at my Tea Room when 3 people came in for lunch. They identified themselves as children of an elderly couple, now deceased that I had known for over 40 years. I had known of their children but had never met any of them. These children had known my ex-inlaws for over 50 years and had also known about me. (How strange is that?)

They were from out of town and had gone to the nursing home to visit my ex-mother-in-law. She told them about me, how I cared for her all those years and about my little store......so they decided to visit. She passed away 3 days later, so if they hadn't visited when they did, we may never have met! (People had often suggested that she was no longer my responsibility, but I loved her and she needed me and it was the right thing to do.)

Because of that serendipitous meeting, and several other 'chance' encounters I am now married to Art who was one of those Tea Room visitors. Once again God showed me how he rewards our faithfulness when we do what he asks us to do. 

I wrote the following poem for Art when we were finding each other.

Kleenex advisory....it's a gripper!

Real Tears

Real tears were cried in the course of today.

Eyes swimming,
 brimming.

Drops sliding,
 colliding.

Healing tears washed over me today.

Wound bathing,
 abrading.

Scars tracing,
 erasing.

Beautiful tears filled me up today.

Heart tended,
 watered,

Soul lavished,
 cherished.

Small sips at first today,

Testing the feel of love.

Showered,
 then empowered
 by love today.

Sweet tears……….
 Because of you.

Psalm 30:5 Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning.