The fields are covered with green as the miles whiz by on the grasslands of Montana and Idaho. Even Nevada is greener than I ever remember seeing it. But it’s as I leave the flat lands and head up the mountain passes to that lake I’ve always seen on the movies – the lake of the celebrities - that the green begins to really overwhelm me - the multitudes of greens that seem to cry out with their vibrancy of life.

We follow the narrow highway to the top of the lookout and then stop to gaze at the crystal clear waters of the lake. Even this part of the lake has joined the chorus of green as it sparkles with the likeness of emeralds. Sheer beauty. Sparkling green – a cleanness about it – yet bursting with sounds like songs of praise.

I am so I took the long road and came to this spot. I hate to leave. Yet I know the Creator took delight when He formed this place.

My journey continues for my goal is the ocean. I want to see the blue – but to get there all I see is green.

That magical highway in California (you know, the 101) winds me through more palates of green. The trees seem like they want to hug me. They surround me with a sense of life. They too shout Praise to the Creator! I am simply amazed at how many vibrant and vivacious shades of green there are. Each green so energetic, so brilliant.

I can’t help myself. I have to stop the car and simple sit still. I need to be refreshed with the pulsating of the forest. I breath deeply. I smell the greenness. I can almost hear it bursting with life as it grows today. I join the song as the choir of creation sings Glory Hallelujah.

I try to record the animation of this spot – but my man made camera can’t begin to capture the beauty of the green of creation. The video will never record the song of praise as the earth declares the glory of the Lord.

But it’s recorded in my heart and my memory and I know I just need to stop and sit still long enough to bring me back to this spot, to this time. And when I do, I will once again be refreshed and renewed. That’s why the artist, The Creator, used the shades of green to make this place. Yes, He made for his glory, but I’m so thankful that He shared with me. I think it’s a glimpse of what heaven will be like - full of life and bursting with color.

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It was only yesterday that I went off to explore a new world and discovered a world I knew nothing of. Oh the wonder of having my eyes opened. The wonder of making new friends… life long friends. College days were the best days of my life to this point in time.

It was only yesterday I turned 20.

It was only yesterday I was the beautiful bride walking down the aisle on my proud father’s arm … and then continued to my new home to set up house for my Prince.

It was only yesterday I brought my first bundle of joy home and realized my world would never be the same. Oh the fun we had. And soon there were four and our family was now six.

It was only yesterday I turned 30.

It was only yesterday I mingled with the many friends, members, staff, and workers of the children and family ministries I was involved with. I remember fondly all the hours of prayer, preparation, and participation in the various events and outreach efforts of the camp and community church.

It was only yesterday I turned 40.

It was only yesterday I watched them march in proudly in their cap and gown and celebrate that their formal education finished. I was SO proud.

It was only yesterday I turned 50.

It was only yesterday I faced the reality that my house was empty and my “job” was finished. My full time roles as a mother was complete and I wondered around the house wondering what I was suppose to be doing now.

Today I accept that

The future is what’s important; the pasts the past!
Focus on what’s next, not on what happened yesterday.

So tomorrow is another day.
Tomorrow I turn 55.
Tomorrow I will enjoy a piece of birthday cake and not worry about the calories or the carbs.
Tomorrow I celebrate a life of blessings
Tomorrow I give thanks for 55 years of confidently knowing the He never has and never will leave me nor forsake me.
Tomorrow I begin those “last ten years before retirement” according to our society and social calendar.

But I am excited that
Tomorrow is still another day to proclaim that He is Lord… that He is my Provider … and that He knows the journey I take.

Tomorrow I rejoice for I go in confidence that He has prepared me for the wonderful life that lies ahead.

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A lot of things happened on May 29. Some important things… some people who changed their worlds. For example, Oswald Spengler was born on May 29, 1880. He was a German philosopher of history and he taught us:

“This is our purpose: to make as meaningful as possible this life that has been bestowed upon us; to live in such a way that we may be proud of ourselves; to act in such a way that some part of us lives on.”

For me personally, May 29 is a very important date as well – for if it were not my dad’s date of birth, I would not be here today. So I think you can understand why I would think it a day of utmost importance in my life! I believe my dad lived his life with as much meaning as he possibly could. He can be proud of how he lived for he lived in a way that part of him will always live on in his friends and family.

Now 80 years is a long time. I admit, I’ve only know this man for about 55 of those years.. Some of you have known him much longer. In fact, I think my Onkel Henri here is the only person that I know of that can actually say he’s known my dad for all of 80 years.

80 years is a lot of experiences! And it’s through those experiences that memories are made and wisdom is shared. And that’s what my dad did. He’s a master at creating memories – because he’s a memorable guy. But there are a couple of memories that helped make me the person that I am today. Let me share them with you.

If I had to discribe my father with one trait that makes him who he is, that would be a tough one to answer… I would have to debate between his loyalty, or maybe his generosity? No wait, maybe it’s his faithfulness?

The list is too long and there are so many things to choose from… but there is one characteristic of my day that I have admired, respected, and even envied, for years. My dad knows how to stay connected. … By that I mean, once my dad makes your acquaintace you’re a friend of his for life. Growing up, my dad was the letter writer… and he wrote letters all the time. And sent cards, regularly. He was almost like the post man – there every day.

I’m not talking about a short hand written note – but real letters. Now probably in the 50’s when he first came to Canada, he probably had to write the letters long hand, but I remember the fancy typewriter dad used in the 60’s. (Well, it was fancy in the 60’s). Every letter was typed with carbon papper… and he filled that page – full of details of happenings in Edmonton. When I say filled, I mean FULL. There was little spacing, barely a margin… and sometimes he’s even turn the paper on it’s side and fill the margin.

I’m not sure who he all wrote to in those days, but I know many of the letters went to Germany… then to Detroit, … and to Cranbrook… and Ontario…. Places where family lived… places where best friends moved to…

And he always kept the carbon copies – filed them in these special folders… year after year. He still has them. I know… because a couple of years ago mom and dad and I were trying to remember the details of something that happened in the 60’s.. and we couldn’t agree. Then dad said… I know, I’ll go look it up. Next thing I knew we were flipping through letters filled with details of our lives 40 years ago….. and in no time, the discussion was ended as dad found the letter that he wrote his sister about the event in question.

Ok, it’s one thing to stay connected with best friends and family… but no… my dad likes to connect. And as he travelled, he met more people… that meant more people to write letters to. Sometimes he’d meet people a a convention, or a missionary at church, or at the home of another friend… or through friends of friends, even my friends. Didn’t matter to dad how he met you, once connected you’re always connected.

And not only would he stay connected by letter, but also by visits. I’ve lost count as to how many cities and states my dad has someone to go have coffee with. In fact, other than our many camping trips when I was growing up, almost all of our vacations were designed to take us to go visit as many people has dad could. I think he’d take out his address book, the maps, and then plan our trip.

Of course, over the years, the way my dad stayed connected changed. When he got his first computer in the 80’s, that made letter writing so much easier. Then with the advent of email and internet in the 90’s – well I think Dad was in connection heaven. Now he could stay connected and he didn’t even have to pay postage.

I think the reason that I am so fascinated by this special trait of my dads is that I see all the letters, Christmas cards, Christmas emails that mom and dad get every year…. And I’m truly amazed. You see, every year for decades, my dad received letters from people I went to college with… several of my college friends…. Even one couple that was my best friend while I was in high school. And all of these folks make it a point to have coffe with my mom and dad when my friends come to Edmonton.

Now remember when I first mentioned this trait I said I envied it… well that’s because I don’t’ have this trait. If I want to find out what’s happening or if my friends are grandparents yet, I don’t wait for my mailman… I wait for my dad’s. I don’t get Christmas cards from these gals, just my dad does. But that’s because he knows how to stay connected. He always has. Just remember, you’re all in his address book – you’re all connected. That’s a rather special place to be.

I didn’t mean to be to chatty… but turning 80 doesn’t happen often so I want to share something that I think is special about my dad. And that it. Connections. Building relationships. Staying in tune. That’s my dad.

There is another side of my dad that I have always thought to be very special. … couple things that made my dad different from all the other dads when I was growing up. My dad loves to play games… chess, canasta, crib, you name it. I think Rolf (my brother) and I knew how to play canasta by the time we were 7. And in the 60’s, Friday night was chess night. And my children learned to play games very young… and a family visit isn’t complete without the cards coming out. Even while Heather’s living in Calgary, she’s phone to make plans to come home for a weekend or holiday, but her first question would always be, when are we going to Oma’s & Opa’s to play canasta. Not every dad plays with their children the way my dad did with us.

The last thing I consider special about my dad is that he’s an exploxer. Well, at least the last thing I’ll mention today or we’ll be here all day.

Yes, my dad loved to explore. And I so benefitted from that. He and mom both loved exploring. And when we were young they took Rolf and I camping a lot! In the summers, I think we were at lake every weekend and of course we’d play games till all hours . But apart from the weekends, we’d have a family vacation just about every summer. And we’d discover America. From those first trips to Banff to the several trips to Detroit and Ontario. Growing up, so many of my friends thought they’d gone on a big trip if they went to Pigeon Lake for the summer…. Every summer. Boring. I’d got to see 5 of the Canadian provinces… and countless states. In fact, we were in the US the day that NASA put a man on the moon. What a prividege to experience that in America! Yes, I do love travelling and I love America. My kids often wonder why I am so in love with discovering the US – and I think it’s because the seeds to explore where put into my heart when I was 6… and I feel so priviledge to have been able to experience so many travel locations… from the mountains, the oceans, the great lakes and everything between. Most of my friends never got past Pigeon Lake (an hour from home). Thank you dad, for being an adventurer. Rolf & I got to see a lot of our world because of you.

Now, it will be a while before I catch up with my dad’s travels. I tried to count where he’s all been…. And from what I could piece together, in the past 80 years, my dad has been on three continents to travel in 14 countries. In Canada, the only provinces he hasn’t been in are PEI and Newfoundland and the Yukon . As for the states, I think he’s been in 22 of them… and next week when he’s in Alaska, he’ll be able to say that’s his 23 state! And for the most part, each trip has been a memory.

Memories are what make us who we are. Thanks dad, for all the great memories. They are special, just as you are.

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She lives life with such exuberance. Whether it’s working out at the gym, organizing her staff and equipment at the road crew office, or simply hanging out with her friends, everyone senses her excitement.

She is sweetness… just like a peach. That’s what her team calls her – Peaches – and she loves the thrill of the roller derby women. She thrives on the camaraderie of a team sport; radiates when organizing fundraisers; and loves the challenges of the tournaments. She’s the perfect component to any squad … Peaches and Cream!

She understands commitment – commitment to the group, to the job, to the team. She can be counted on and trust me, they all do.

She knows who she wants to be! She is confident of what she has to offer to make this world a better place. She knows how to reach out and touch the lives of others. She knows, even at such a young age what it is she wants out of life, what she wants to accomplish in life, and what she wants to contribute to life.

She really is an amazing young lady. At times I see glimpses of me. She has some of the same skills I do… as well as some of the same doubts and fears. But she is so much better than I ever was or ever will be.

She is all of these things… but the thing I am most proud of is that she is my daughter. Today, Wyanita JoyLee turns 23. She had blessed my life for 23 years and I am grateful for every day of it… yes, even those days of turmoil about a decade ago when she wasn’t as confident as she is today. But I look back and I am thankful for every trial we went through as mother and daughter because they helped make us who we are today… and I am so proud of who she is today… so I give thanks for those “tribulations”.

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The decorations are bought and the balloons are waiting to be blown up.

The cake is baked and I’m watching the family’s new pastry chef do her magic in decorating the cake. This is going to be incredible… but I think dad knew that when he asked her to make his cake. He’s proud of her and he likes that he can “show her off” on Sunday to all of his friends.

The program is 80% finished. I still have the final things to edit for the PowerPoint presentations. I’ll be glad when that’s complete.

My son has the camera and he’s ready to do the photos, putting his skills to work doing what he loves most.

Another daughter is the MC and I need to confirm with her the final list of who is “saying a few words”.

Tomorrow, my oldest daughter and I will run around town picking up all those last minute items that we’re renting for the weekend… and she’s in charge of making sure we get everything to the hall in time to decorate.

So I think we’ve got all the bases covered. The To Do Lists are hanging on the fridge and we’re checking things off as they are done.

Many hands make light work – I’ve been hearing that since I was a youngster… and on weekends like this, I am so glad that my family knows how to work together.

We’re gathering at mom and dad’s this afternoon at 3pm to honor my dad and to give us a chance to visit with some relatives that have come from Germany for the occasion… so it will be a true Kaffee and Kuchen Stunde… (coffee and cake hour for the nongermans in the room)

We’re ready. Let’s party!

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Rather, it seems that the days fly by at a record speed.

I need to say that I am glad that God’s record of my thankfulness is not dependent on this blog or I would be in serious trouble. It isn’t even dependent on my personal journal/dairy.

I am thankful that He sees my heart and He knows my inner attitude. I am so thankful that it is in the spirit that He communes with me and that He walks and talks with me there. And as we converse, I tell Him the many many things I am grateful for.

Then, if and when I have time, I come and share some of those things with you. Usually things I have written first on my computer, where I tend to write most days. I just don’t always get it up on the blog when I actually write it.

Although I am not overly concerned about what you think of my gratitude blog or even I me, I do want you to know that just because this blog doesn’t have any action for days or weeks at a time, that you do not take that as a measurement of my gratitude.

I come here to write and share what’s on my heart when I have the time or inspiration … I go to my Lord to express my true thanks for all of His wondrous blessings in my life.

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Yes, her new life. Today was her wedding day! Tomorrow her honeymoon and they were spending it moving. Life was exciting. Her borrowed wedding dress was hung and hanging in the closet. All the food for the reception was ready to be served. She was so thankful the owner of the nursing home had allowed her to use the lobby for her wedding as that would make things so much easier for her. She’s also arranged to serve supper a little earlier – at 430 so she hoped to be finished by 5. That should give her enough time to get everything set up for their small reception and to dress for the wedding at 7 pm. It would be a small wedding as all their family, except one of her soon to be husband’s sister, were all in Germany. So her soon to be sister in law would be her bridesmaid.

It was a wonderful day. Everything went as she had planned. Good food, good friends, good time by all. And she was married and so in love. After all, this was the young man she had followed to Canada the year before. Engaged while still in Germany, they had committed to each other and to seeking a new life and a new country. Now they were together and off they went to the new job at the new ranch.

Committed to each other and to creating the life of their dreams. Not everything has gone as she dreamt of early that Wednesday morning. But that is how life goes. Ups and downs. Good and bad. Sickness and health. The commitment has not changed.

It’s now 56 years later. Today, it’s another Wednesday and I reflect back to that Wednesday in 1952. Now I wasn’t there. In fact, I didn’t show up until a year later. But that was the day my family was created. That was the day my mom made her commitment to the handsome charming German fella I’ve known as my dad.

Life, and definitely weddings, has changed over the years. (Can you imagine working a full day on your wedding day and then moving the next day? I can’t.) But the term commitment hasn’t. That’s how God planned marriage – two people leaving their families, committing to each other and to Him, creating a new family.

I am so thankful I was blessed be being born into this family. I love you mom and dad! Thank you for your wonderful example.

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Pretty simple really – modern life. Yes, I’m thankful I’m alive in 2008 and that it’s not 1908. Why today?

Well, I woke up this morning and the man on the radio informed me that it was minus 45 outside. That’s 45 below if you are used to Fahrenheit – as at –40C and 40 below F it’s all the same. Doesn’t matter what language you speak, that’s just plain COLD.

So, life in 2008 is pretty good. I wake up in a warm cosy bed in a quiet room oblivious to the storm raging outside. Even as my bare feet touch the floor, there is warmth. I head to the bathroom, use the facilities, to turn on the tap and get warm water to wash up and brush my teeth. Then I remember that the man on the radio has warned me of what the world is like outside my modern home so I go to the window to look out. Now here is probably the first similarity to 1908 – it’s completely frosted up as I know the single pane windows of those log cabins would have been, if they even had a window.

I turn on the TV and see the road condition. I know my car is sitting in the garage, so I wouldn’t even have to scrape the windows, just start it and in a few minutes it would be as warm as my house. I decide I don’t have to go outside today as any errands I had planned can wait till next week. My fridge has plenty of milk and eggs and the pantry is definitely not empty. So I plan to spend the day in front of the computer working on business. On my way to my office, I stop to turn up the thermostat a notch and I heard the hum of the forced air furnace kick in. All is normal and warm in my world.

Now, I’ll rewrite this as if it were 1908.

I would wake up under my feather tick and as soon as I stick my nose out from under the blankets, I would know a winter storm had rolled it. My bedroom is freezing as the fire went out overnight. I dread getting out of bed, but I have to go… so my feet hit the frigid wooden floor and I scramble to find cold socks and the my shoes. I quickly dress, double layers, as it’s so cold in my room. Even the clothes are cold. I open the front door to head out to the outhouse but the wind pushes me back in and the force of artic air cuts my cheeks. I decide to not expose all my cheeks to that, so go back into the room and find the chamber pot.

Now to see to the fire. I stir the embers and see it’s not out completely. Soon I have a hot fire going and the kettle on for coffee and the porridge pot is simmering. Needing more water, I grab the bucket and see it’s ice. That’s ok. I’ll set it on the stove and it will melt. I’m just glad I had filled it yesterday. Intuition had told me a storm was coming so I had brought in extra. The room starts to warm a bit and the family stirs. After some breakfast, hubby and I bundled up with all we have, as we need to head to the barn to check on the livestock, milk the cows, gather eggs and make sure everyone is fed and safe in the barn. I say a word of thanks that our community helped us raise that barn last fall or I’m not sure what we’d be doing with our animals. We’d probably loose them in this weather. Everything in the barn is safe and fed so we make our way back to the house. I say another word of thanks that we had put up the lifeline between our cabin and the barn as we’d never have found our way back to the house in this whiteout. Foresight is a good thing… and the wisdom of friends who have lived through Alberta winters before and knew of the potential life threats we would be facing. Back inside, I’m amazed at how warm the cabin feels compared to earlier this morning. Or is it the fact that I just came in from outside and anything is warmer than that. We’re as secure as we can be so I plan to spend the rest of the day quilting and darning socks. I think I’ll put a big pot of stew to simmer on the back of the stove. It’s a good day but I’ll be glad when spring arrives.

Yes, I’m thankful I live today in 2008. I will easily survive this cold spell. Modern life is VERY good.

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Writing refers to the action of putting thoughts into words and “putting them to paper” or in the 21st century, typing them to a computer file. Writing also refers to the finished product of having written something. And of course, we all know that the term writer refers to the person doing the writing.

So, that said, can I sum it up by say that - Writers write writings!
How’s that for a mouthful. Almost the same as Speaker speak speeches.

Words represent ideas in sound and in writing. Ideas exist in our minds and are always abstract. Words give ideas meaning.

So since my mind is CONSTANTLY in action mod and full of thousands of ideas every day, I am so thankful I have the ability to put some of these abstract ideas into words. And that I can write them down. I like to write them down first of all, so I can remember them and secondly, so I can share them with others who are looking for similar ideas.

I haven’t quite figured out yet how to write my thoughts at 2 AM as I lay in bed in my dark bedroom. Maybe it’s the cosiness of the warm blankets. Or that I’m relaxed and not concentrating on my to do list. It never fails, that’s when I have the most awesome ideas. Some nights they come so fast and furious I can barely keep up in my mind. But by morning, I can’t begin to remember the details or thoughts and the ideas never become words and are never writings. Sad really. Such a waste of ideas.

Maybe I’ll look into getting a tape recorder by my bed or one of those little Dictaphones that executives use. That way I can capture my thoughts that I’ll then communicate to you through writings.

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Then they placed her in my arms and my heart overflowed. I looked into the eyes of her father and told him, “We’ve been blessed.”

A few days later, my doctor told me to take her home and just live. His advise was “Don’t adjust your life around the baby, as the baby will adjust to your life.”

And she sure did. I remember how she could sleep through me vacuuming, even under her crib. She loved the animals and the plants, just like her dad. She loved baking and crafting just like her mom. She loved the outdoors, even as a newborn. Oh how she hated it when we’d go outside and cover her up to protect her from our Alberta winters. She’d only stop crying when her nose was out from under the blankets and soon it would be a pink nose.

She’s still like that! Tenacious about dong things her way. But loving to the very core of her being.

Oh she’s had her struggles and challenges. But she was God’s gift to me. A gift he actually gave me twice. And I thank Him for it. You see, we just about lost her when she was 18. In fact, the police had told us she was gone. The van was demolished and there was not much left of the passenger side where she’d been sitting. But then the nurse told us they had revived her and she was in a coma. We now know that was when God was deciding if He needed her more than we did. Days later she awoke and her journey to recovery began.

Today she turns 30! Yet she’s always willing to help her family. I know she struggled sometimes wonders why God sent her back. But I know why.

Today, I look into the eyes of my first-born and tell her she’s blessed my life in uncountable ways and that I couldn’t imagine these past 12 years without her.

Today, I rejoice that she’s my daughter.

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