The date for this family celebration had been chosen over two weeks ago and the occasion was set in motion over two dozen years ago. Oh I well remember the events of the 24 hours before the birth of my baby.

On the Sunday the 14th, I was incredibly busy as it was the day for our Sunday School Christmas Program and as the SS Director, that meant I was directing the program. It was a magical evening and as I was at the door shaking hands with all as they left, I had so many best wishes as everyone knew I was having my baby soon! We were up by 4:30 am on that Monday as we had a catering job for a Christmas Party at 6:30 that evening and the turkeys needed to get in the oven.

Then is was off to the hospital about an hour from home to have a baby. The day seemed to be taking forever as my eye was constantly on the clock. I knew the turkey was cooking, but the rest of the meal still needed to be cooked as well, and my hubby was at the hospital with me when he needed to be in that catering kitchen. We had agreed that he needed to be on his way no later than 5 so he could be ready to serve the guests at 7pm. Still no baby at 4:30.

But God heard my prayers that day and just before 5 my beautiful baby girl was born. Daddy held her, looked in her eyes and claimed her as precious and then passed her to me and left. I was so thankful she was born before he had to leave; but it all happened so fast, we never even had a chance to name her.

Later that night I tried to call home only to discover that due to some storm that about 80% of the city of Red Deer had no phone system. No phone calls out, no phone calls in. The city was in disaster mode – and would be for the next 3 days as that’s how long it took to restore phone service. It was an interesting few days watching a city cope without phone service. No 911, no fire calls, no lots of things. And the hospital was overflowing because there were so many of us they were discharging, but we had no way to call anyone to come get us. We were sent home Friday.

I know that the story of her birth made for some rather unusual reports. When we left the hospital, she didn’t even have a name yet as I hadn’t spoken with her dad since moments after her birth, so the paperwork was all filled out as “Baby Girl” and the clerk told me I had until 4 pm that day to call her or that’s what her birth certificate would read. The clerk made this special concession to procedure for us only because of the no phone fiasco of the previous days so she knew why there was no name chosen yet.

So in between carving turkeys and tossing salads for the 200 people at the luncheon, we did manage to pick a name. Our beautiful baby girl became Heather Grace. Heather – for she’s named in honor of her mom, sort of – you see, in Germany there is a flower named Erica, and the same flower in Canada is called Heather. And the Grace – for she truly is a gift from God as this pregnancy had so many issues, concerns and risks and even the events of that week made us realize that she was healthy and beautiful because of His Grace and His grace alone.

My how I ramble. All those memories flooded back to me as she’s trying to cancel her birthday party. She was cancelling not because she wasn’t looking forward to it … but we were in the middle of a huge snow storm, the roads were horrible, visibility was almost nil and she didn’t want people on the roads unnecessarily. There was no cancellation – two were already there, and we knew her sister was already en-route via public transit. We made arrangement her the other sister to pick up the birthday girl in her boyfriends 4×4 and we knew her brother would also have no problems getting there in his truck.

Supper was tasty, hospitality was warm, gifts were opened, pictures were taken and the cake was cut. It was a wonderful evening. The fellas even shoveled Opa’s driveway of the 18 inches of snow that was falling from the sky and Tim managed to fiddle with Opa’s snow blower and managed to get it started for the first time this winter.

Tonight, the celebration was shorter that most as everyone was later in getting there due to the roads and all wanted to get home before it got much worse. I was last to leave and I almost thought I wasn’t leaving as I got stuck in the heavy snow in the road in from of my parents house once I backed off their driveway. It took me a bit of back and forth … but I did finally get moving. The main roads were a bit better as they had had more traffic on them. I was glad to get home though.

And I give thanks for my youngest darling daughter. Heather Grace is such a blessing and she lives life with a sparkle. She’s now a pastry chef and she’s happiest with her mixer, eggs, flour, sugar butter and her vision to make up a batch of sweetness. She’s also an artist! Only an artist could create the incredible cakes she’s made. She has the talent and the creativity to challenge some of those chefs of Food Network and what she can create with simple sugar – well it’s amazing! Just like she is.

Oh, if you don’t believe and think this is just the rambling of a bragging mom, then see for yourself – she has some photos on her site. Then tell me she’s not talented!

Father, I thank you for two dozen years of memories and all those cherished moments, glances, smiles and ‘my baby’s’ dreams that are captured in my heart. I lift her up and give her to You so that You would continue to be her Guide and Provider.

It’s gone – all of it gone.

I haven’t been on the site in weeks and on this site on months and yesterday I needed some info on my personal site – and it was gone.  Empty white space when I went to the domain name.

I knew it wasn’t some I had done as I checked on several computers and always the same results.  So I’m on the phone with the hosting company to ask – where have you put my website.

They check – all the other sites are up and working fine.  Just my personal domain and this journal.  But they have no idea as to why or what, so they will investigate… and see if it’s in their back up of their system.

A couple of hours later, they inform me that their back shows that the sites been gone for a couple of weeks and they wonder if I have a copy.  Ha!

Yes, I have a copy of my website on my hard drive- that’s where it was created and so it’s there.  But this is a Word Press site and it’s not created on my hard drive … and that I don’t have backups for because it’s not a html coded page but in some database system somewhere – and that’s all beyond my techy understanding.

They say they’ll check more and get back to me.  I give them the information I have – yes, I keep fairly detailed records.

A couple of hours later they let me know they found the database and they can rebuild the site.  That’s good because I wouldn’t know where to begin or what to do.  I just do the writing, not the restoring.

So now all has been restored.  I reloaded my website and it’s functioning as well… but I’m going to have to do a little work to let Google know I’m still around.  The site was down long enough for Google to notice.  Guess that means I really should be checking in more often.   I’ll try to do better.

Just for the record, just because I don’t put my praises online, doesn’t mean I’m not thankful.  I am thankful.  And this year more than before.

I consider each new day a gift from God! every friend an honor to know! and all backups a priceless blessing!  

Father, I thank you for back ups  In this high tech world we live in, so many things can be lost forever simply by an error of a comma in the wrong place.  Such is the computer world and programming, yet it is all still subject to human error.  Thank you for restoring my website and bless the computer guru’s on the other side of this site who had the knowledge of how to restore the data and put it all back together again.  But most of all Lord, thank you for being the restorer of my soul and I sing you praises for doing all my backups!

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.

Father, I thank you for giving me eyes to see the beauty around me. Thank you for bringing me to this place – where everything sings Your praise. Teach me to Be Still and Know that You are God. I lift up my voice to sing Your Praise.

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.

Father, thank you 55 wonderful years of memories and that most of them seem like they happened yesterday. I give You my remaining years and am excited about being used in some way to be a blessing to others. May everyone I cross paths with in those years ahead see Your love in me.

Today is the day of the party. All went well; the food was great and the fellowship incredible. I believe everyone had a good time…. And they all loved the cake.I want to share with you what I shared with the group that had gathered to celebrate the live of my father. This may be longer than my usual postings, but I felt I should share my “speech” in it’s entirely.

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.

Father, I thank you for the life of my father. You have blessed him in countless way and used him to bless hundreds of people, but most of all, to bless me. I ask that you give him many more years of good health and allow him to be surrounded by friends and family who love him.

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”.

Father, I thank you for the gift you gave me when you gave me Wyanita. Thank you for giving me the wisdom and the patience I needed to be the mother you asked me to be. I ask that you bless Wyanita the rest of her days and that Your Spirit would constantly draw her back into Your circle of love.

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!

Father, thank you for giving me such a supportive family, one that knows how to work together. Help us remember all the little details that need to be finished before the guests arrive… and then bless our time together as we celebrate the life of my dad.

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.

Father, thank you for seeing the inner me, the real me, and the thankful me. Continue to guide my steps, my thoughts, my actions. May they all be found worthy in Your sight.

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.

Father, thank you for my parents and that you have blessed them with 56 years. I count each day they are in my life as a blessing from you. Give them health and peace and may you grant them many more years of togetherness before You take them home.

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.

Father, thank you for determining that I would be born into this time. Help me to appreciate all the conveniences that the 21st century brings our society and to now take them for grated. Keep those that need to be outside safe from the elements, especially our emergency personnel and city road crews.