thankful list--number 3

• For those who are not sure of what I am doing - I am making a list (over time) of things that I often take for granted and simply do not thank God for- the list will be, of course, endless although I originally set the number at 100 - the list is not in any particular order as all of the items are ''thank you, Lord'' in my heart-
• Today I am thinking of ''pencils'' - those little yellow sticks with a lead and an eraser that I enjoy doing my puzzles with and other writing- they are still a wonderful means of communicating even though we now have computers , fancy pens, and typewriters etc- there is just something about a pencil that reminds me of God's grace- we can make marks all over our life and yet, with His forgiveness our mistakes do not show in his book of life as He erases them completely- All we need to do is show( admit) our sin and He is forgiving..
• I remember as a kid how often I would have a pencil to write on paper and daddy would sharpen it with his jack knife-- only schools had pencil sharpeners and we were only allowed to sharpen our pencils once a day- I am sure that we would have done it more often if the teacher had allowed it but she soon caught on that it was an excellent way for us to get out of school work- I learned quickly not to chew the eraser off as daddy did not have money to replace a usable pencil and if I made a mistake and had no eraser I had to draw a neat line through the question and do the whole thing over again-Then everyone could see the mistakes that I had made-
• I am so glad that God does not draw lines through our mistakes so that others can still see our mistakes- but erases them completely- Thank you, Lord for pencils with erasers and thank you for being our eraser.
• Huggles me, Meme

my days this week

so Oma......
has caught a head cold and I cannot find anyone to blame it on-
but have spent a day in bed with books and tv for noise
and did get up today and did dishes and other such stuff that
manages to keep on moving in the house
I am going to continue to rest today and look forward
to a new day tomorrow
I miss david's pampering but the dear grand daughter did go down with
a note to the drug store and got some over the counter medicine to
perk me up-
I will be back soon ........
it seems to me a cold would be blue but then again my nose is red, LOL

here is some strength for your journey ---

Healed and Whole
One day I dug a little hole and put my hurt inside I thought that I could just forget I'd put it there to hide.
But that little hurt began to grow I covered it every day I couldn't leave it and go on It seemed the price I had to pay.
My joy was gone, my heart was sad Pain was all I knew. My wounded soul enveloped me Loving seemed too hard to do.
One day, while standing by my hole I cried to God above And said, "If You are really there -- They say, You're a God of love!"
And just like that -- He was right there And just put His arms around me He wiped my tears, His hurting child There was no safer place to be.
I told Him all about my hurt I opened up my heart He listened to each and every word To every sordid part.
I dug down deep and got my hurt I brushed the dirt away And placed it in the Master's hand And healing came that day.
He took the blackness of my soul And set my spirit FREE! Something beautiful began to grow Where the hurt used to be.
And when I look at what has grown Out of my tears and pain I remember every day to give my hurts to Him And never bury them again.
Author Unknown


Peace, peace, to the far and the near, says the LORD; and I will healthem." ~Psalm 57:19

joy for my friend

so often we get to share a Friend's joy but we do not
always thank our God for this joy-
Lord- thank you for the news that Cora was able to hear today
and even though her journey is at the beginning we know You are with
her the whole trip- You are the good Shepherd
I know that sometimes the journey is very hard
and has many stumbles along the way but I believe what You
said -- that You are always with us- no matter where the journey
ends--
Lord, I miss Papa but I know that you took good care of him here
and that now he is with you with no tears or pain or suffering- and
the end of his journey was the beginning of his eternity with you=
thank you - Lord- for beginnings and endings -
Meme aka Oma

FRIDAY'S TOP TEN BLESSINGS

1. it didn't snow- the weather man was wrong :-)
2. went for a walk today and saw a lot of leaves of many colors on the ground-
3. did a little decluttering up in the almost but not quite an attic- it has rooms in it but we can not sleep up there due to fire regulations- re insurance- but it is/was a good place to do crafts or hobbies and storage- however the storage seems to have got away on us- a lot of it was things that papa thought that he might use or need some day- it is very bitter sweet and I see his dreams and yet his dreams are not needed by him anymore- so I am sorting and just ''letting go'' some is toss- some is give away and very little is for me to keep---but I am so glad he had his dreams and his joy - and even though he did not get to finish all of his projects he had a wonderful time dreaming them-
4. fed the kids frozen pizza straight from the oven after finding it in the freezer- who said Oma has to be healthy every night--LOL
5. the boy who is a friend is on a holding pattern on my couch as he locked his keys in his truck--AGAIN--so he has to wait for his mom to come - this way the kids have to stay home with Oma--hahaha
6. Dogman is asleep in his favorite chair- he is getting more settled with his papa-friend gone away
7. no dirty dishes due to number 4
8. found a new chocolate brownie recipe that I will try soon- it was upstairs in some of the ''stuff'' we were saving for some day
9. my house plants are starting to relax after the hot summer- heat seems to slow them down-
10. my friends here who encourage me with your words and thoughts- it is a good thing to have some one read what is in my heart- papa used to listen - he was a good listener-

good night, every one- hugs from Meme

time off

I took a couple of days off which almost turned into three- it seems like
there is a lot to do in the fall- leaves here are coming down fast and now
the weatherman said we might get a dusting of snow- God must think
we are a cake.......
Last night, some one spray painted our church- I did not see the damage
as one of the board members cleaned it off but I washed all the windows- so now
my arm is tired- it is so sad to think that some one found fun in doing it -

number 2- on my long list is:
socks- I am so glad we have something to protect our feet from dust and dirt and keep us warm too- in Alberta we need socks at least 9 months out of the year--
I have all colors of socks as I decided white can be too boring- it is a great conversation piece if you have bright yellow or pink socks on-and it makes other people laugh---
I remember that papa had cold feet and his feet were so swelled he could not
wear his socks but I found some of mine that would really stretch out with out leaving marks and were soft and cozy- also very colorful with Christmas green and red- he loved his/my socks as they did not hurt his legs- Miss Ashley found a pretty pink pair of hers and he wore those too- the nice thing about cancer is that you can wear what ever you want and no one is going to challenge you or make fun of you-Cancer took a lot but not papa's sense of humor-
we laughed nearly every day over papa's feet in those socks instead of crying about the swelling - God gave us that laughter -
must go and find some socks for tomorrow's snow (wink)
huggles me, Meme

that list

I talked about a list of 100 plus things that I am grateful for that I really have not thanked God for as they are just ''there'' and so of course I had not thought that maybe God would like to know that I appreciate them- I know He knows my heart but maybe-he would also like to hear my ''heart-
so as soon as I have generated the 'list' I will start to post it------- the 100 is just a number I choose as I could never complete the numbers that belong in the list as there would be not enough time but it is a start......
an example is :
1. the color red== God has given us so many shades of red in nature plus the knowledge to create more reds on our own- it is a color to warm the heart- and often used as the love color--it is the color of our blood which gives us life- God created the many colors of red - papa had a saying that I would like to share- '' every woman deserves a little red in her life.....'' (meaning that it is ok to be good to yourself too)
thank you, Lord for the color ''red''-

this is sort of the kind of list I had in mind and the reasons why I appreciate the particular gift from God.......
huggles me, Meme

2 months with the Father

today is papa's graduation date for his first two months with his Jesus-
so I thought I would say a thank you for the blessings from God who gave his only Son so that because papa David believed in Him he has eternal life-

I surely do miss him daily and often think of his kindness=
He had a heart of service and was always willing to go an extra
mile - he was such a good dad, and grand dad and even snuck in
the great grandpa
---
here today we had some rain and the sky has been grey all day- or is that gray?
the g'kid and I walked to church today and heard the bells ringing from a neighbor hood church- it was such a blessing to listen to them and remind
us in hearing of God's love-
we had a quiet day as both of us have off tummies but we did manage to eat and
the boy who is a friend hung around all day.......the kids did not go any where so
Oma read in her room- not that they are a bother or miss behave but some how
their energy makes me tired- the dog runs back and forth following them
knowing that chips will fall where he can pick them up-
we seldom need to vacuum due to crumbs as Dogman lives to clean/eat- he is
not pleased with clean children--LOL
our grand daughter is 18 and has been a great blessing to both hubby and I during our journey with cancer.....she hung in with us through the good and bad-
I was reading this afternoon that suggested that we make a list of a 100 things that we are grateful to the Lord for that we often take for granted so stay tuned- I would do it tonight but I thought I would like to do it in pencil first and just take the time to also thank the Lord for each one- and of course, we would make more than one list.........or just continue the list-maybe make a whole book/journal - some thing to work on-----
huggles me, Meme aka Oma

Saturday hugs

Saturday night at our house used to be full or filled with grand kids until papa got too sick to have so many over nighters- we did have a couple of nights for him but we could see that it was too hard for him-----he was a wonderful Papa and is sadly missed- he took one grand daughter to church for 18 years and then as her sisters came along they too went...... they know where dear papa is and are at peace with his going to Jesus-- one describes it as Papa shaking hands with God and he is safe-
Now the Saturday nights are over for the most part although one of the grand kids now lives with me.....it is easier for her to work at her job as her little town has no jobs for her......
we will do more Saturday nights and although they will never be the same we will find joy and have a new tradition to build-
must go and get off to bed as morning comes too soon- sometimes--
good night from my house to yours
huggles me, Meme

things I like:

1. teapots
2. blogs
3. bright lights
4. moon beams
5. christian praise music
6. potatoes
7. fresh carrots
8. chocolate
9. reading
10. puzzles but easy

and so much more but will share at another time as I am off to bed-

which is on my list too-

Thank you, Lord for giving each of us things to enjoy-

Meme

thinking thursday

• one of those ordinary days but the thought did come to me- that I am no longer the person I was this time last year-
• cancer changed me too- even before dear hubby died- it became the focus of my life and his life and our life........so we could live with it.......
• I think of the word terminal much differently because in a sense we are all terminal and only have this day......we just learned not take the tomorrows for granted so we lived for the today
• I wonder if I will ever be the same woman I once was......worrying about everyday things like mud on the floor or saving the good dishes for company-
• I see all the stuff hanging around yet that papa and I saved for someday only to find that someday is not a day of a week but today-
• we were blessed to be able to use some of the things saved before papa got to ill to do any thing with any thing...... now I use it or lose it- because all it really is good for ....is today-
• I don't think God wants me to go back to the woman I was because He has plans for me...... who I was before cancer was who I needed be then but not now-----
• I may even blog more of the deep of my heart-----not just the sorrows but the joys of living.....
• I know this will take prayer and time to pass through the waters and the fire.......but I hope to some day to be able to talk to couples about the lasting love and the vow ''til death due us part. ''
• ---------
• Thursday Thanks
• ---some sunshine and no rain, the weather man was wrong
• supper out of the freezer into the microwave
• glad to not be on the cnn news-
• ouch-pulled a muscle in my neck so will have to see if g'kid is as good a nurse as she says she is--LOL
• blogs some thoughts and wonder if I will think the same tomorrow- papa used to laugh at me at how many times a day I changed my mind.
• good night, and blessings to your house from mine- huggles Meme

another day

• filled with sunshine and a slight breeze but still warm enough to walk to the library and here and there with only a sweater
• did a few house chores but nothing major- tomorrow is a new day and perhaps I will get more done then- or perhaps not (smile)
• did do the g'gals sweaters and work top- she bribes me by saying that no one can wash like Oma
• I went for a coffee with one of papa David's brothers and he is going to get copies of a picture of dear hubby so I can give the brothers and sisters a good photo of papa
• I miss papa and often find things still here that remind him of me- today my sweater was poking me and I found one of papa's toothpicks had woven itself into the material but hidden enough to feel but not see- papa was a tooth pick man and often would be seen with a toothpick in his mouth
• of course, he kept spare ones in his shirt pockets and sometimes they would end up in the dryer - to sneak into my clothes-
• He would have had a good laugh about this day
• huggles me, Meme aka Oma

today was Tuesday at our house-

1. ladies bible study at church this a.m. and we have a good group of gals
coming -
2. then seniors day in the afternoon so I went part of the time and visited
with some of the folks- it is fun watching them play games and just have fun- I do not play a lot of games but like to ''just be there'.
3. also had to do more chores outside- garbage day here and we/I put out a can
of gingerale for our truck man.....he was late today so I missed giving him a wave- papa started this tradition and the man said it was always a treat to come here as so often folks give him a hard time --and some are just dirty about the garbage- not bagging carefully etc. so pray for our town that we will make this man's job a blessing everyday....
4. must go as it is late here and need my quiet time
good night with blessings-
huggles me,

Monday's blessings

1. we had another sunny day here which means a non furnace day so saved on the gas bill and lights too- I love fall days like today----
2. did some needed chores and our gate was sticking so did some hand sanding on it as it is so hard on the fence if we tug and pull- papa David has a sander but I am unsure how to hook in the sand paper and also the sander is almost as big as me- so I adapted and used woman power-and the gate is not sticking now
3. saw one of the dear daughters for a while this evening--
4. Miss Ashley made supper for us as I did most of her laundry- her soap is called Oma - LOL
5. Dogman relaxed more today- he is in a muddle with papa gone and has been having wee accidents on our floor so I have been taking him out to his tree more often to avoid mis-haps-
6. I found some really nice blogs to read - and so soon I will have to find out how to list them on my blog to share with folks

good night, blessings from Meme aka Oma

A NEW DAY

1. OMA AND G'KIDS WENT TO CHURCH
2. weather was good for walking
3. saw dear daughter for a few minutes
4. groceries- not my favorite day to buy groceries but I needed a ride so the day had to be the day
5. pop corn for the kids
6. tired today but made it through

have a good week and follow the shepherd

huggles me, Meme aka Oma

A THANKFUL FRIDAY

Today we had rain nearly all day but it was one of those
light rains that I could walk in- God sends the rain as well
as the sunshine- with out the rain our land and homes
would become brittle dry--and no green grass or flowers
to enjoy-
I was able to take two walks today- thank you, Lord-that
I can walk......
had cold chicken for supper which was wonderful- thank
you for food and also for the blessing of being able to eat
our food- thank you, my Lord
I saw many friends today which is another blessing that the
Lord gave me,
blessings from Oma aka Meme

THANKFUL THURSDAY

1. SUNNY DAY
2. COFFEE WITH FRIENDS
3. G'KID HAPPY
4. EMAIL FRIENDS
5. CHEERFUL BLOGS
6. GOD IN MY DAY
7. FRIENDS WHO PHONE JUST TO CHECK UP ON ME
8. SHADE FROM THE TREE
9. GOD HAS NAMES FOR THE STARS
10. AND GOD UNDERSTANDS :-) MY SORROWS AND MY JOYS

WINNING WEDNESDAY

We used to have a day at our local grocery store
called winning Wednesday- it came the first Wednesday of
the month and you always got 10 percent off plus a chance
to win the money back on what you spent that day-
but really in life we have winning Wednesdays every day- we have
so much to be thankful even in sorrow= all things are given to us
from the Lord-
I remember papa David being so thankful for chemo even with
the side effects that he had to suffer through- chemo days for us
were fun because it was the one day of the week where we had
some where to go.......he was too weak to make every day outings
and so as I make this list tonight--I will remember that there
is thankful things to trials.....

• sleeping in-- something I enjoy doing now and then
• library book club
• a sunny walk
• a light supper with the g'kid
• the g'kid going out for a while- I like to see
• her go places as I know she is coming back
• g'kid coming back
• the extraordinary in the ordinary days of our lives
• good night and Lord, you are my shepherd--
• huggles Meme aka Oma==

A LADY WITH HER SHEPHERD

HERE I AM :-)
--- the last two weeks for me have been
deep in sorrow
I did not think any thing could hurt so much
both emotionally and physically
and yet, it is needed for me to begin
to heal- I know this is where the Lord wants me to be......
I remember when as a child I could never keep
up with daddy when he was doing chores in the morning
but I loved to be with him
so he would sit me up on a stair way made
of bales of straw ( in those days, one person could move a bale
back and forth and make fun things for kids to do....
and build things like a set of straw bale stairs
- he set me there so I was high
and dry and could watch him travel back and forth
and of course, he could get on with his chores-
and know that I was safe from harm
I could see him and he could see me and both of
us were content to be where we were-
I think now that the Lord has me just sitting and watching Him
on a stair way where I am safe
and that He can see me and I can see Him and and just be content
to watch Him knowing that I am loved, and safe and high and dry-
He is asking nothing of me except sit here and wait for Him
to call me down when the time is right.......
He is my shepherd......
and I am his sheep
huggles me, Meme

remembering papa

David “Allan” Piesse wenthome to be with his Lord andSaviour on July 21, 2008.He was born in Innisfail onJuly 23, 1939 and lived mostof his life in his ‘home’ town.He fought a hard andcourageous battle living withpancreatic cancer for eightmonths.He is survived by hisbeloved wife, Marilyn; hisbrothers: Bob (Kathleen),Doug (Val), Edward(Marydel), and Terry(Shauna); his sisters: Jean(Steve), Shirley (Gib), Pat(Larry), Margie (Marcell); hischildren: Tim, Greg, Barbie,Bonnie Lynn (Blue), TammyLynn (Sean); 16 grandchildrenand four great grandchildren;his walking buddy Bootz(Dogman) and his “A” team,Ashley and Andrew.He was predeceased by hisdad, Robert David; his mom,Ruby; and brother Bump.He was fondly called“Papa” by his family and hisfavourite verse was John 3:16.We cherish the memoriesof Pap David’s faithful lovefor his family and friends.David “Allan” found joy ingoing the extra mile to helpothers in need. He kept hiscommitment to Jesus with aservant’s heart. Accepting hisimpending death with courageand faith he taught us how tolive each day in the moment.When Papa found out hiscancer colour was purple, helost no time in taking hiswife’s purple sweater and wasoften seen wrapped in itwatching TV.PapaWe will always rememberyour special smile,your caring heart,the funny things you said,Your warm embrace.The “Walking” us to thedoorYour window wave andsaying “Goodbye” just onemore time,and your blessings of love.We keep the memories ofyou in our hearts.Papa David Allan, see you in the morning.David Allan’s memorialservice was held on July 25 athis “home” church InnisfailChurch of the Nazarene withPastor Bud Sargent and PastorGlenn Boyce officiating.Cremation was at HeartlandFuneral Services Ltd.,Innisfail.

quiet day

Today was a quiet day for me-
some chores done but not enough :-)
thank you, Lord

• no rain
• Miss Ashley-work
• able to walk to my small job
• no bad or sad news
• supper
• and so much more to bring joy to our day
• huggles me, Meme

thanks for today

dear Lord, thank you for today-thank you for loving me- so many things to
add to my list:
sun shine
phone call
happy dog
chocolate
miss Ashley
memories
sorrow in my day- if I had not had dear papa I would not
have memories and even though for now they bring sorrow; my
sorrow is mixed with joy
for dear papa David who love me and was a good kind husband
- and so much much more
huggs Meme aka Oma

Friday

There are so many things to be thankful for but my heart is not into thanksgiving- I feel broken.....I never knew sorrow could hurt so much.
I am thankful that some how I am keeping a grip on the Lord- I know
He loves me and is carrying me through this pain.....I miss dear hubby so
much and now the loneliness is setting in......I so want to talk about
him but so many people do not.......perhaps they did not know
him well enough to know who he was to me - perhaps they
don't know what to say - if only they would just give me a hug-
I miss his special
touch the most- just a hug here and there or a pat on the shoulder- his
as he went by....... his kiss good night or good bye and his hello
when he came home
..I miss him = plain and simple
thank you. Lord for giving him to me and help me in my sorrow-
huggles me, Meme

thank you, God

• for another sunshine day
• for holding me tight in my grief
• that I am able to walk for the things I need
• for family
• for friends

Huggles me, Meme