Spring is here & new life is everywhere!

Today is a warm 24 c and the lawn mowers are humming steadily. The squirrels are running around wildly because the owner of the lot is mowing below "their condominium" of branches, holes, and nuts. I imagine they are deep into their little burrows with their little ones until this 'usual' interruption ceases and all will return to normal. The smell of the fresh cut grass is heady and memories of "once was" return to my heart, my soul, and my happiness. Through good times and bad, I always felt comfort with the smell of life.

The apple blossom brings me so many memories of where I grew up. The Okanagan is a place like no other. Everywhere you turn you will see miles of orchards. Apple, apricot, peaches, plums, & pears. We used to go to the farms and pick our own fresh tomatoes (still warm from the vine). We ate alnong the way because it was absolutely impossible not to bring up that juicy tomatoe to your mouth and bite into it as though it were an apple. We picked our own dills for pickles, zuchinni for relish, beets to pickle, jams to make. Summer holidays were very busy but we loved it.

We coordinated our family holidays and would meet at Mom & Dad's and begin our r&r by canning up to 8 hours a day for several days. We supplied ourselves with a years worth of preserves though. It was such an awesome treat for fall & winter. Those days are gone now but not in memory. The laughs, big meals, kids playing, and much love kept us closely knitted together.

The kids have all grown now and even though this tradition isn't followed as it had done for almost 15 years, I know that in my heart the families will NEVER forget those precious days. I know it brings me great comfort in knowing that I was a part of it.

I bring this to a close now as I listen to the still running lawn mower and I feel drawn to the outer doors to feel the sun upon my face. I hope your days are filled with sunshine and love as it is with mine,

Glady

Greetings on this 21 ST. day of January 2010!

The fall & winter of 2009 has been rather an unhealthy one for me but I am beginning to spring back into the moment of wellness...finally. I have come to accept the diagnosis of my illness and do the best I can to live as 'pain free' as I can.

Our Christmas was quiet, which is exactly how we like it. My son-in-law's Mother was in from Miami to celebrate his graduation from the 'school of culinary arts'. He won a scholorship and is now working in a wonderful restuarant downtown Vancouver. My daughter, her private chef, my son, & we two mothers enjoyed a Christmas cooked by Felix. it was awesome. For Christmas Day dinner we went to my sister & her hubby's home for a family gathering. There were 12 adults and 2 babies. What a wonderful dinner. The babies are beautiful.

I am -slowly- working on a book of true life experience short stories. At the same time I am also trying to keep up with requests for stories needed for "Chicken Soup for the Soul" and "Cup of Comfort". Anyone who can write can submit a story or poem or ten. I have been writing for years but I never shared it. Writing is a gift and a gift is meant to use and enjoy so why not share it? So many people in the world could benefit from your experience and bring hope, comfort, laughter...all the things that are sometimes hard to find in the modern world of media. I didn't realize what writing really meant to me until I shared it. I felt like I took my first breath.

Why not start this brand new year with your life experience stories that touch the heart of millions. You will be surprized how it may change you.

Any comments?

~ How I Came To Know Jesus~

I have had a request to write about my deliverance. I will do it happily as I travel down the road of rememberance through my words.

My life story has not been a happy one. There were struggles of every kind. When you grown up in that kind of dysfunction, you become dysfunctional. I had no idea that I was not living a good life, after all, it was almost just like my parent's lifestyle. It wasn't until after my second child that there were deep rumblings in my gut that I wasn't living on a proper scale. My former second husband's (father to my 2nd. child) family were this beautiful and loving family that were filled with laughter. They had fun together, like, going to a fancy resturant for New Years Eve, or dinner parties. I was so terrified because I had no idea whatsoever how to eat shrimp cocktail or cornish hens. The pastry of my Mother-in-law's pie was flaky and melted in your mouth, and I had never had a raisin pie before, now one of my favorites! My father-in-law was the turkey maker...'a man cooking!'...I had never heard of such a thing before. And what was this bushy green thing on my plate? It was the first time in 26 years of my life that I had ever tasted 'broccoli'. Over 15 years I was given the 'best life lessons' that I have ever learned. They taught me how to cook, bake, laugh deeply, entertain...need I go on!

I had been introduced to so many, many differences from where I came from and I took to it well...except I still had some problems. When my marriage failed, I was devastated. Not only had I failed another marriage but I had lost the kind of parents that I had never had. My Mother was gone during my marriage & my Dad died when I was 16. I really grieved for my in-laws and still do.

I went back to my old ways, using the 'poor me poor me' excuse. My 2 children were adults by then but I know that I had hurt them in many ways by my lifestyle. One day, during a hospital stay, I felt the true peace of God envelope me and there was not on ounce of fear in me. No anger, no questions, no anxiety...just peace & love. That moment changed me forever because I had 'seen' the work of God before but I had never felt it inside me. This may sound like a fairy tale to how I came to know Jesus...but there was more.

I was alone in my little home and I had been struggling with terrible thoughts & feelings until I could take it no more. I called a Reverand that I had met in passing and asked for help. We met at his church 10 minutes later. I don't know how I even drove there that night because I was so messed up! He led me to the Lord and I have never looked back.

This has been a changing turn in my life, and a beautiful one! I am a completely different person now and have been making friends with some talents that I had not desired to encourage before. I am able to communicate my feelings like I have never been able to do. It has given me a sense of 'soul freedom' and I was content.

I still have my challeges, BUT, I am no longer a 'lost broken soul'. Jesus walked through all my trials with me. Sure, He could have delivered me from everything, but I never would have learned the wisdoms that I would need in order to survive. I would not be who I am today had I not walked this life beginning to now.

" REBORN IN CHRIST

When I saw this little picture I fell in love with it. It immediately reminded me of my Mom years ago, when she was staying with my husband & I and our two children. She had been going through a very stressful time at that time and so she and her brother decided that they were going to go out and forget about the fears and hurts, and enjoy a few drinks.

She got home later than I expected. Here is the 'reversed role' memory.

~I was tossing and turning in bed while listening with one open ear for my Uncle's car to pull up. It felt like it was 4:00am but it was only midnight. I heard the car's motor driving up the street, pulling over to the curb and a car door slamming shut. My Uncle waited until his sister got to the door and then he left after she got inside.

I was standing at the top of the staircase railing awaiting for her to notice me. She worked on the door a little longer than usual because she was trying desperately not to make any noise. The door squeaked a little and she sucked in a breath and froze. Then she began to giggle. She must have been thinking what I was thinking at the same moment "Who was the Mom and child now?" I couldn't stand it anymore and I said in a very firm harsh whisper,

"Where have you been! Who were you with? Were you drinking!"

She almost leapt out of her skin and with that a breaking of wind! Well, we started to laugh. We both covered our mouths and headed downstairs to the basement suite where we could laugh without waking anyone. It was good for her to have that feeling again of revisiting her youth even though it was 'just memory". Memories can keep people going. If they are good memories I see it as 'fuel for the spirit'.

Why don't you share a good memory here or with a friend. Go back, listen, feel, remember the smells & sounds & laughter. Let it help you toward one of the greatest things in life...peace.

Bless you and thanks for coming in.

'Auntie'

I am removing face book site to here at my blog. I feel it is time for a change and more room to play with colors, etc. I hope that you will leave comments about the contents and maybe you could suggest what topic you would like to hear about.

Thank you and thank you so much for coming.

http://auntiecolumn.blogspot.com

My Easter Story

"A Blessed Happy Easter"

The flowers are beginning to bloom and the grass is getting greener. Oh how I love the song of the newly arrived robins. Nothing makes me smile more than watching those beautiful winged feathered friends hopping along the wet grass, leaning their little heads toward the ground and then plucking a fat meal from that very spot that he was listening to. Is that God or what!
The smells drifting into my nose send me immediately back into my past where things made me happy. In one moment I am living by the ocean, listening to the crashing of waves. Another smoothes the frown lines in my forehead as I remember the walks to the lake, The smell of coconut suntan oil and children laughing as they played in the water.
Today, I thanked God for my gift of smell.
I have been burning a candle in remembrance of our Lord Jesus Christ and the sacrifice He made for us.

I would like to share with you

"My Easter Story"

It was the year 2000 and I had begun having heart palpitations and thumping. From being a high energy girl to lagging myself along as though my tail was tied to bricks, was very irritating. I worked 3 jobs plus I would help my friend with her catering business. I walked a great deal and played tennis. I owned my own little double wide trailer and had a lovely little yard to tend to. I chopped wood for my wood stove when I needed to and did voluntary cooking for seniors. I often was called to the hospital by my friend (she was the head nurse there) to ask if I would come and sit with the dying so that they wouldn't be alone. I was not afraid of this gift that God graced me with. I care gave to my mother as she fought cancer for 3 months and it just became natural to me.
One day, Hazel (the head nurse) said:
"We are going to have to get you a pager pretty soon , Glady"
We giggled.
My boss from the Seniors Center where I also worked (my home away from home) kidded me one day by saying:
"Pretty soon the patients are going to scream when they see the 'death angel' at their door!"
A lot of the dying and the families called me their angel so that is how that came about.
My health began to take a turn from active to sluggish and fuzzy brained. (Craig...don't you dare comment on that!)
I began experiencing fainting spells. My kids began to monitor the experiences and then one night when I was alone , I became very nauseas and a sharp pain seemed to stab me in my sternum and my jaw felt like it was frozen. I called my friend over and she took me to the hospital.
That began my 3 week stay in the hospital.
They didn't want to send me home because I would lose my spot for an angiogram.
They also did not want me to be alone.
I was feeling very, very sad this one day because I wanted to be with the church family as they went to the river and faced east at sunrise.
It was Easter-time.
I had been off of the heart monitor for a couple of days now and was able to walk up and down the halls myself. I was still very anemic so I had to be very careful.
On the eve of Easter morning, I told myself that I would get up and sit in the chair next to the window and pray as I watched the sun rise in the east.
I placed the chair in front of the window, placed my bible next to it and went to bed.
I felt so exhausted. I felt like I had run 40 miles!
The next thing I knew was hearing footsteps running around in my room and the Dr. ordering the nurse to hook me up to IV and back on came the monitor.
"Please, leave me alone. This is my time with the Lord. Just leave me and let me rest."
I thought I was verbalizing this but soon realized that I had absolutely no energy at all, even to say
"Go away."
The nurse tried 4 times to insert the IV (this was very painful but I couldn't move). She told the on call Dr. that my veins had collapsed and she couldn't get a vein.
It was then that I was able to verbally say very weakly,
"Trust God and He will guide it in"
It went in.
I might add that Jane was not a Christian and she told me a couple of months later that those words and the fact that it did go in smoothly had quite the impact on her.
Later, when I was able to talk to someone about the experience I explained to them how peaceful I felt. I felt surrounded by some sort of comfort blanket and I really wanted to shut my eyes. it was so peaceful.
I found out later that my blood pressure was clocked at 40/35 ! Just like a clock unwinding.
It was just not my time.

Jesus is always there for us...whether dying or living, healthy or sick.
He loves us so much. We can't even imagine the love God has for us. Even if you weigh His love, it is still not enough.

As we feast this Easter and remember why we celebrate this particular 3 days, may we give thanks for everything we have.
We can see the sunrise and sunset as they colorfully paint the sky.
We hear the robin sing in tune to the lark, and smile as we hear a baby's laugh.
What a blessing to smell the aroma of a baking ham, biscuits and pie.
I love to feel the contours of my kids' faces. I can't hold a new born baby long enough to ease the yearnings of my heart.
When I hear my voice rise in praise of Jesus, I become teary-eyed. Not because of the sound of my own voice but who I sing about.

"Thank you oh Lord for all that I have.
Thank you that I am able to show you how very much I love you.
Thank you for giving me the chance to live and share your words.
Father, I pray that if I ever disappoint you, You would show me the right path to walk.
Thank you Jesus for always walking besides me...
and carrying me through the tough times...Amen"

It's Almost Spring Again!

Here it is Spring of 2009. The winter of 2008 seemed to drag by slowly as each new found day brought an assortment of weather shades. Most of the time it was dreary and my fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis did not like the cold one bit, although walking in the snow was a beautiful trip back to my childhood. I remembered distinctly how the snow crunched underneath my brand new black patten shoes that were a size too small. I had never had new shoes before so I was willing to suffer because I felt like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz...except my shoes were black and flat and small.

The skies are clearing a little each day and the wind is still a bit chilly but the air smells so fresh and alive! This month we once again welcome the new arrival of buds, crocus, hyacinth & snowdrops. To follow will be much, much more of an array of colors that the good Lord has given us. Oh how I do appreciate this wonderful gift just for our pleasure.

The beginning of 2009 also brought us the new arrival of a beautiful gift of a new born child. My brother Randy is now a Grandfather. He is the youngest in the family and he beat us 'middle kids'! The little princess is so beautiful...but then so is Mommy. Her Daddy is big and strong and handsome. They have been truly blessed.

I have been writing up a storm for Chicken Soup Series and Cup of Comfort Series but I will not know for a while if they have made the grade. It has been difficult writing because of my condition and I can't stay at it too long but I keep plugging away. I shall post another story soon but just wanted to touch base and let you know that I am still alive and kicking seeing how I have not made an entry for quite some time. I am sorry for that as I do enjoy writing for you.

I want to thank those of you who visit and read. You are my encouragement,

Blessings,

Glady