“Yahweh, I know you are near, standing always by my side….”

Dad you would have loved this morning as I took a walk down by the wharf with all the lobster boats sitting idly, casting their colourful images off the still water. Glorious morning that I know would have calmed your soul and in earlier times of your life, got you to get out and fish on the Maitland. But not today dad, not today,

You know dad when you repeated that mantra, one of many mind you over my life time with you, “get ‘er done”, it did not mean you had to leave so soon. That saying was one of telling us to get our butts in gear, no complaining and get it done whatever it was…until your finished. No rest for the wicked. You get nothing for free. Get. ‘er. done. Hmmmmm

Sheesh!! But could you not have waited for a hot minute?! Like ‘shoot me now, dad’ (metaphorically speaking here). Because that is what I was thinking (one of many chaotic thoughts and memories) as I think of yesterday surrounding you dad, with the family. Me sitting holding the hand of your youngest daughter (and grateful for technology being in PEI and too far away) as we once again watched our second parent leave this earth, tears flowing freely down my face.

I start to wonder about what a person can handle. I did not think I had more tears in me but there you go….yep tears aflowing. I know it has been a hard go for you and to watch you over the last few years struggling with your health journey. Always a healthy man, never really a sick day to mention. Of course when you did have a sickish day, Lord almighty have mercy. Then its “Ma, where are you?” LOL. But these last few years, bless your heart for persevering even though you did not want any of it. Drove you up the wall, hey dad. Yeah another favourite mantra of yours. It was hard to accept that it was your turn. To watch as your eyes close for the last time. Was not really ready! Then again is anyone?

It took me back to one of your many stories, this one being with your own dad, ol’ Gump, when he had said to you “I do not like what I see. I want to leave.” And of course being the dad you have always been, take the bull by the horns so to speak, you wondered what did he mean? He wanted to leave!!! He wanted to leave this earth as he was tired, had enough of the changes and could not do the things that he could do in his life. And you with your witty way, cajoling him saying you have still a kick in your step. I get it grandpa. I get it dad.

I guess one never knows what is in store in and with this life given. Life is a mystery and only God knows. But, seriously dad!! Nine days from mom passing to you passing too. I am in a state fo surreal shock. My head is full and foggy, not really getting what just happened. I needed to walk by the water today in the quiet stillness to wrap this teary head and hopefully you see the glory of the day.

No words to convey to you my love for you. I was just talking to you dad. I mean I was just talking to you!!! And you had to leave. What the ever loving all that is good did you have to love mom so much, you had to skedaddle home. Yes mom was your home, plain as day. As much as you were a pain at times (not being mean here dad) but it seems my only way to get through this one is to find the humour. You know that you have not been a good patient. LOL. Just kidding. Not. Your oldest daughter and son may have a word or three. Hmmmmm

They say, not sure who the they is, but say that when a beloved one goes the partner follows soon after. Yepper. 67 years with mom wins hands down. I believe you were only hanging on with all of your ails and ills, sometimes very very difficult to get up at all, even to see your wife at the nursing home, that with mom’s passing it was time. Your permission as it were to not worry about her anymore, No need to be supportive and her steadfast love. Not feel you were a burden to your family. Well lets not get too carried away because being a patient and having patience….I think a little lesson or five could have been said a time or two.

Oh dad. I get it. In my head I get it but my heart, it hurts. Being strong is a subjective word right now. Yes you may have taught all of us to be strong and give our all but holy goodness.

I am going to miss your craggy deep voice, off tune singing, your tight hugs, your gift to gab, your nose spreading as you start to be sassy or sarcastic dry humour. You have always been quick with the wit, your good old days stories even. Can’t believe I said that!! Missing your stories already!! Hahaha. Yeah dad, even your stories that you repeated over and over and over again. Even in the same hour. I could go for a story or two right about now. I could even go for those mini, no lets face it, long winded lectures or life lessons that you so readily offered to all who came to sit by you. Even grandkids could not escape. Oops you did not quite catch the great grandchildren. Your bad! Yet, like your dad, you had lessons in the story. I am not sure how in the world one story merged into the next but somehow you made the connection. There were times that I may have nodded off (I can say that now, hahaha).

All I can hang onto today is that you are finally at peace. No more hooking up to a machine at night or releasing you from it in the morning. (Bless your heart sister for commitment to mom and dad in the last four years as well as from my brother) Yes, the body can only take so much and yours had enough. Right dad!? You did not want to know something else was going to break down within. No more. You are at peace and for that, I am filled with gratitude. God is taking care of you now. But, I think mom has her running shoes on because her man will be chasing her once again. Run fast mom. You can’t get rid of him. LOL. I bet you thought you had your own hot minute, hey mom? Nah. Not this day.

What do you say to the man (dad, father, pop, grandpa, uncle, fil, bil) that gave me life and my three siblings and families!! That guided us with his strong will and values of how to live out this life given. Modelled for us…Family life truly. Hard working always. Provider totally. Fixer upper creatively, Lecturer (or story teller) crazily. Fisherman peacefully. Wisedom given freely. Beloved hugger and the two-finger kiss off the lips in each hello and goodbyes faithfully.

You have touched many lives and be sorely missed, just know that. I am smiling dad but can it just be a little one for now please? By the way, you can hear us all now, no more visits for new batteries for the hearing aid as it was another thing to drive you up the wall. I have lots to say for you and mom so stay tuned. Woohoo. You got this. And I got you, dad. Love you always. Blessings

Let us pray for those whom are in our prayers and those beloved who have gone before us. Amen

PS Thank you daughters and family. May the comfort of one another give us the strength and courage for the days ahead. Peace.

Say hi to mom for me dad.

I am not sure where to start but know that the image of you, mom, with dad at your side as he looked at you with love and intent, holding your hand, I will remember that forever. As well as knowing you were surrounded by all of us your loved ones as you left us this day. So I thank you mom for giving me life. And being my steadfast rock forever. I am eternally grateful to you and I love you.

At 10:09 am yesterday morning (or 9:09 am Ontario time) when a woman, a nurse dressed in dark blue apparel, turned to my brother as he held his iPhone so I could be with mom and family and said with a nod, “she passed.” Then looked over at my dad and gently said, “she’s gone.” What!!! I mean she had just bent over my mom with her stethoscope, moving it all over her upper body. My brother and I were talking while I looked at my mom. I understood afterward but not in that very moment. Throat full of tears of love and disbelief and joy and whatever in between, my mom passed away peacefully. No words but a cacophony of emotions and images washed over me. My mom died at 9:10 am on her birthday with my dad holding her hand.

I had just asked my brother “did mom’s breathing change?” “No”, he said. It did not because it had already stopped. Oh oh oh mom. I am so very grateful to my brother and sister using their technology to connect me and my youngest sister so we could be with mom as she passed away peacefully yesterday morning. We were all together her children, spouse, sister and of course ever faithfully dad. (Some decisions like moving far away during times like these, sucks big time). So technology, you rock. Best best best gift to give her and us. Over the course of the last few days and ending on her birthday, we were with mom, ma, mother. Wrapped in love she was washed in words and touch pouring out from each of our hearts.

Its okay mom….your good.

Oh mom you came into the world, not sure if you were crying loudly or not, but you left this world as God held you gently and so lovingly in a peaceful way. The quiet gentle, and yes sassy too at times, woman (daughter, wife, mom, grandma, great grandma, sister, aunt, friend) who passed with a grace and dignity you so deserve. Beloved and liked of anyone who has met you. You looked so content, with your head turned to your life partner who has been at your side for over 67 years and looking at you so intently, you passed peacefully. Oh mom! Oh dad! Thank you Lord. I am humbly grateful.

Hey mom. You got to turn 29 again on the 29th. LOL. You are a rascal. You held on, didn’t you and we celebrated you of birth and death. God works in mysterious ways. Great plan, mom. Not sure how that happens in terms of aging as you know my own three daughters are 30 and over and your other four grandkids in their 20’s, and even your three great grandchildren in the mix. But hey mom, it’s your gig. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday dear mom, Happy Birthday to you. You did it!! And your middle great granddaughter will continue on with you as she celebrated yours and her day. I’ll tell her one day your story that happened on your 87th and her 5th birthday.

I had no idea of how things work when one leaves this earth. But honestly watching my mom struggle with her breathing, as she has been on oxygen for the last few months, and then last Monday getting a phone call at 4 in the morning from my oldest sister, “mom is now in palliative care’…..what does that mean? It was hard to wrap my head around. I know the word palliative but I needed plain English. It is her time. Seriously, no. I have been praying to God to bring peace to my mom for awhile. But in the moment it is happening, one is not prepared. Is anyone? Crazy and trying to be calm would be the operative struggle within.

The ups and downs inside the heart and mind, wondering and waiting and not wanting and hoping. What does one feel! It does not matter because life and death are inevitable. One day, one step, one breath at a time. For me, I did not want her to suffer now and any more. No more. She was slipping and thought last Tuesday it was it. Then holy moly, my sister calls on Wednesday and says, guess what! Mom is up and eating and chatting away (slurred speech mind you but hey I would take it.) What in the holy goodness! But it was her last hurrah. Mom held on until her birthday and left this earth to be with God in heaven.

Mom, I love you. See you later. Blessings.

Let us pray for those dearly departed and those whom are in need of our prayers.

PS To my own daughters and to my family who brought their strength and love. Bless your hearts.

And to the staff at the nursing home, a great appreciation of your dedication, knowledge, and caring for mom, thank you.

Well every day is a celebration. I watch nightly news for the Atlantic provinces and they have this section where people send in big celebrations to be shared. Well today marks my parents 67th wedding anniversary. Holy moly blessings and all!! What a testament to being together!!! They have certainly given witness to commitment, dedication and foolishness. Oops. That slipped out. No mom and dad, not foolishness but wonderfully in awe especially with dad having your ear mom. LOL.

All I can say is what a journey! It always amazes me how two people end up with each other. Never mind that they are together for a long period of time. What does it take? Just like parenting, lots of books on the subject but no golden ruler or set of instructions. Yes one takes vows but unfortunately things don’t always turn out the way you think they will.

But, I remember the story of how my parents met. My mom was with her friends at a dance and my dad was with his but a mutual friend introduced them. Anyway, my mom just finished dancing with a young man who was shorter than mom which she did not like. So when dad approached my mom who was sitting on the bleachers, my dad asked her for the next dance. Mom looked at my dad and said, “how tall are you?” And dad said, not surprisingly, “Tall enough.” Talk about cheeky. Obviously they hit it off because the two planned for dad to pick mom up the next day and go visit good friends of his. Now dad had dropped off mom the previous night but it was dark. Not too many lights on her street and the houses kind of looked the same. He had an idea of where mom could be. Anyway he drove down the street in the early morning looking for anything familiar. He did not. Dad had passed her home and did not even know it. He was just about to leave when he looked in rear view mirror once more and there stood mom outside on her porch. And the rest they say is history.

So to you mom and dad on this day and for all the other older loves that have found themselves celebrating such a wondrous journey. I am in awe and wonder in the sacredness of a love that endures. Maybe survives is a better word. No. I think endures or everlasting. It is a daily love to me. Right? A love that holds in the ordinary day, taking a toll by life lived but still persists through the nooks and crannies of living together, children or not, thick and thin, of the daily. The shiny newness of newly wedded bliss becomes less shiny as the years pass. But in that somehow the kernels of the vows said and given to each other hold steadfast.

I’m sure one can ask all kinds of couples how have they done it. And the responses would be far and wide, a whole gamut of words of wisdom for staying the course together. Being together. Lasting. If I think of the Scripture passage from 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Is it love only? I think it is so much more. But who am I to say and certainly not the AI question and answer expressionless response either. For me, go directly to the source. The couples celebrating. Who else? What a gift to bestow and share. And to you mom and dad, thank you. Blessings.

Let us pray for those who are in need of our prayers today and for those who are celebrating an enduring togetherness. Amen

Until it is missing. Your heart knows what your heart knows and there is nothing like coming home. Lord, it is good to be home even if the gifts given and received in being away were beyond measure. But it’s that cozy comforting feeling within the very soul of your being that I find myself nestling into that very space I left for a wee bit of time. Coming home to sit a spell in all that is familiar. As Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz says as she clicks her red satin shoes together, “there is no place like home.”

What a time with family and friends!! Woohoo. Helping out, holding hands, kabutzing, story telling, walking, playing, driving, celebrating, hugging, listening and laughing, crying and all the in between. The whole gamut of emotions and feelings as I engaged fully in the spirit of love and friendship with those who are in my life. In that I can hardly express my deepest gratitude for the gifts freely given in each person I walked with for a few moments of time over the last few weeks. Walk or talk, sit or stand, best days to hold onto and tuck away in my treasure trove of awesome goodness.

It is so interesting to me how home has such a reverence to it. A sacredness that you feel as you walk through your own door, greeted with the familiarity and contentment greeting you heart and mind. I literally did a little jig, prancing around because I could. LOL. Good thing it was only my dog Maggie May with me. She gets me and does not make a comment at all. You got to love unconditional love. Of course, she is in her element too as my youngest and kind hearted sister and family took care of my pup while away. There she is acting like a young pup, jumping out of the truck, taking a quick gander of her yard and then into her home, up and down the stairs, pushing her nose into nooks and crannies….then plops herself on the back of the couch. There…done…all is good for her.

What I find odd and funny because although I was born and raised in Ontario I have always had a home feeling too visiting the Maritimes as that being where my dad was born and raised before trekking to Ontario. Yet, something about his home as my family referred to as ‘going down home’ each summer was truly my second home away from home. And then many many many moons later I find myself retiring in the Maritimes which turns out to be home. Why? Not sure. But when I cross the bridge and see the red soil, it is a rich earthy feeling of it calling me home. Yet, one is reminded that anyone not born here are referred to as from ‘away’. I do chuckle at that.

However, home is where the heart is. A totally appropriate title from a TV series and describes my musings too. They have it right as home comes in different faces and places. My heart is so full when…..Dad giving me a hug, the familiar smell of him. Don’t worry dad it is not a bad smell, just a dad smell. Him telling and retelling tales of old over and over again. Sometimes, I can tell it better. Just saying. And then my mom. Oh my mom. Holding her hand is home even though she cannot squeeze it anymore, so filled with crippling arthritis. Staring at her beautiful face, hoping upon hope, as I visit her at the nursing home, she shows ‘mom’ of her being home to me, albeit so short-lived moments, the smirks, the laugh, the mom look. Oh I so miss that mom. Coupled with the plethora of interactions from the joyful presents of presence as my family and friends gave me a piece of home…themselves.

Wonderfully enough I got to experience homes newly building up and becoming home. From my oldest sharing her new digs after many months of trying to find a rental. Sidebar. What is the ever loving world are landlords thinking to charge crazy crazy!!! And then my youngest getting a much needed change of home and I got to help her organize…tired pup. Moms get to invade homes too. LOL. To my cousin having set up camp in a totally renovated home by his own hands, as he proudly shows his home and created a lifestyle befit for cozy and living life fully. Woohoo to all. And then to a bit of a facelift at my sister’s place, seeing paint bring light within the walls. Literally. That is definitely a yahoo to the woo. Whether the walls of home to the road taking one home or the ever loving feeling of home, you gotta love coming home.

So today home, you wrap yourself around my heart and squeeze the livin’ bijeebees out of me and I feel it from top to bottom, sole to noggin’. Yep. Blessings.

Let us pray for those who are in need of prayers and hope today. Amen.

Yes I am. I am a WIP and know that to be true. But I think most of us are as we journey through this wondrous life. A little profound so early in the morning. Well I was up early and already out for a walk. Goodness gracious I love the sun rising early. Can’t you just feel it? Fresh and invigorating as you take a deep breath and arms wide open. You bet. And I did that on my walk today as my dog did her morning routine of sniff, then leg raise, then sniff and then…oops a clump of snow. It needs a new colour. Ah yes, bright yellow. the best of the best Maggie May. You are so kind to nature. Yes, I am realizing that my legs may be getting exercise but what should I do with my arms? Move them and breathe at the same time. I seem to be having trouble with that coordination. Hence, I am a WIP.

There are so many acronyms out there I cannot keep up with them. And if you try to guess what they are, you could be bang on or not even close to guessing. It is probably easier to create acronyms or even abbreviations of words because of the long title or common phrase of something but holy moly when does it stop. Never mind that the shift in the written word, like how to write using proper English slips a bit as you read public ( or even personal for that matter) displays of thoughts. Look all around the immediate space from signs, articles, newspapers, ads, books and so on. What happened to good old fashion words!? It is already a challenge for many to get the correct spelling and now? Well, take a look at the last text message or note you were sent. It is not an anagram puzzle to be deciphered people.

But hey its all good. Right? I remember getting the Friday night special from Kentucky Fried Chicken when I was younger. I loved Friday evenings as it was the day of the week where nothing was planned for the ‘whats on the menu’ for supper. It was a family effort of goodness and deliciousness. Homemade pizzas (boy you got that down pat mom and dad), Chinese (well except those hard string things), fish and dollar fries (who knew the toonie shape would taste great for fries), and Kentucky Fried Chicken. The delights of treaty foods. Yum to the tum. But seriously when did it become KFC? I bet if you asked random people, would they be able to tell you what KFC stands for? Or when did some acronyms become a word?? Can you tell me that, asap?

Jargon. The thing is workplace jargon makes sense to have some acronyms. If you have to repeat yourself over and over again, well the talking becomes like the written word back in the day with shorthand. What happened to long hand? Never mind. But the thing is if you are new to the job, you look like a deer in head lights as the acronyms are bandied about. I was watching this comedian doing a set on acronyms in the workplace. It was hilarious. ROFL. Get it….rolling on the floor laughing kind of funny. I mean LOL is so last year. See, I bet you didn’t even bat an eye.

Probably it is the cell phone and social media like facebook or twitter or instgram or maybe even tiktok that kicked started the rage. But it is not just a fad. Goodness. It is already difficult enough to engage in a face to face chat when the cell phone has now become attached to the hand. Robocop, your on. Never mind teaching young ones how to spell words! Now there is a lesson or ten for all teachers out there. Eduspeak. Oops. Educational jargon literacy speak to address the way of communicating.

BTW I would really like to be more IRL. At least IMHO. But I realize that YSK when you write a lengthy message it is TL, DR. And I have to just SMH as for most people in the social media realm its NBD. But hey, GL with that. Anyway I realize that most of this is OMH and so I need to suck it up butter cup. Haha. Get a social media dictionary as I am sure I cannot rely on Websters or Merriam or Oxford. They maybe too old school. Yikes! Is this how the good old days started?

So getting back to me being a WIP. I am. I am a work in progress. A friend of mine recently said that about themselves and I in turn naturally had to ask…What! No I am not going to use the letter combination that others may use (swearing is not my thing). But I am not going to pretend what I am reading. Are you kidding!! I need to keep up with these new generations of GenX, Millennials, IGen, and Generation of Alpha, especially as a mother and grandma. Never mind on the ball friends and family. If you can’t beat them, join them. Right?

So for 2day, I am going to say B4N and maybe TTYL. Blessings.

Let us pray for all those who are in need of our prayers today. Amen

There is so much yuckiness going on in our world. I cannot even begin to comprehend the magnitude of how much suffering, sadness, mindless destruction, hurt, devastation, abuse and greed that takes place each day. Fear, loneliness, hatred seep in causing a murky darkness that pervades the nooks and crannies of people’s lives. A hopelessness draws you in as you helplessly at times are trying to seek out answers, making sense to a nonsensical world. The why of what I witness takes its toll to something beyond my own limited experiences. Dreams shattered of the young and old, loss and hardship multiply, our common home and community dwindle, and the cost of living skyrocket. Oh to have food on the table.

A few days ago I read from our diocese web page that Pope Francis is making this year, a School of Prayer year. What a faithlift!! I like that idea. Giving rest to the weary soul who seeks comfort and strength in times of need and delight to the graces bestowed undeservedly. I am but one person. And yet, it got me thinking about what prayer has done and still does for me in my own life. I think it is in prayer and gratefulness that I look to stave off the perils and hopelessness pervading the insides of me.

On a daily basis there is a conflict or struggle with right and justice. My heart hurts and my smile fades as I see the world’s ills as well as in my own backyard. Absolutely there are things that happen of a natural nature such as sea and earthly destructions or to people you love as they battle their health or loss of something dear to them. Don’t get my tears going there. Whether man-made or natural, the ills of the world, near and far, can continue to foster a hopeless, helpless, senseless disbelief. But then, I realize I can do my part in my own little way to do the good, to be of goodness, to be life-giving. In that, prayer is a start as well as the knowledge of being grateful and aware of my own actions and words.

How? Well being retired, I am available. Oops that came out wrong. I am able to do things that others may not have the flexibility. I am so happy as my older sister got an iPhone because she is able to now contact me when visiting my mom. Mom may not know me but I do and I can say “mom” over and over to her. I can see her face which seems to be more and more a sleep. Although there has been a smirk or two if I say something in just the right way….who knows with dementia. Seriously it sucks. Sorry, but it does. Yet the blessing is I get to see her. I pray for her and my dad who has had his own health issues being on full time dialysis. Who would have known? Garth Brooks, your song, The Dance, with its words, rocks.

I am learning that it is my attitude and approach to the day, to the interactions with people, to seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary. It is the little moments that spill out and take me by surprise. Graced moments where I feel a bigger purpose is before me. Extraordinary in such an ordinary happening. Words can’t quantify it but the awe of just seeing, feeling, knowing. Ah yes. It just is. And I silently thank God for moving within me to see what is before me.

How to live in gratefulness? Well I guess when my dog Maggie May goes into the compost under the sink and tips the contents over, spreading it all around the floor. Gratitude does not come to mind until I realize I can sweep and Swiffer it. You bet. Because she did not use the floor or furniture for a potty. It is not her fault that water and dry dog food don’t cut it. So what do I do….put the compost bin on counter and the garbage bin in pantry when leaving. Grateful. Yes. Can you be grateful and annoyed at the same time? Just kidding. Now I just need to remind my old brain to add to the list of what to check before I go out. Keys, doors closed, keys, lock the door, lights off or on depending on time of day, stove off, hat and mitts (still), purse, filled up water and food for dog, no garbage available for nosy sniffer and oh yes, keys. I miss the old days when I just borrowed the car.

But in the ordinary daily life lived, the extraordinary ways of being present and offering up thanks. And also prayers to all whom are in need of hope, healing, strength. I can do that for how can I not. So blessings today.

Let us pray for all those in our lives and those near and far who seek healing, strength, courage, compassion, and love, may they come to know a light in their darkness shines for them. Amen

It was an interesting dynamic and pull to the heart when I realized that February 14th marked not only Valentine’s Day but also the beginning of Lent this year with Ash Wednesday. Indulgence over fasting. Hmmmmm. I think both of these experiences are about love. The love of self to seek a more meaningful journey with Christ which comes about in lessening the distractions. So fasting over a period of time and hopefully finding What to do? What to do? I mean what with chocolate being a popular go to choice for fasting, the love language of gift giving could take a hit amongst the Christian community!! I am going to guess that some may do an about face and might look at other fasting options fast. It’s not like there are not plenty of choices to choose maybe giving up coffee, alcohol, meat, gossip, social media.

My middle granddaughter has been planning for Valentines Day back in early January. Being a four year old, time is from own perspective…hers. The day after Christmas she said it must be close to her birthday. Nope. A little ways a way by many many months little one. Regardless she marks the calendar year by her standards of tradition. Her mom is a great one for introducing and having family traditions of yearly special occasions to be a big to do. Ergo, Valentine is next. LOL. But her exploring of love and hearts came in her painting and making cards and goign to Dollarama to find images and things to help her come to know Valentine. Bless her heart she made a card for those special people in her life. Each card a different looking heart face and then wrote their name on back. My heart soar. Love that girl.

But at the same time for some reason she has been very interested in Jesus. She wants to listen to music that talks about Jesus. Read stories of Jesus. And watch videos of and about Jesus. She is very particular. Pieces that I like are not her thing which is important for me to know. It is a very tender time in her life. My heart tears up in bursting with love for her in wanting to ask questions. LOL. She has a very literal take on whatever I say and adamant about certain things when it comes to Jesus and God. Patience is a virtue for me as my granddaughter looks at me with a “no you are wrong Rara.” Of course I am.

She brings the beauty of love to the fore as she explores Jesus love and the love expressed on Valentines Day. Bless your little heart. Her actions speak louder (although her voice can be quite firm too, thank you very much) as her soft and gentle demeanour with others and her wanting to make a craft for someone, especially her mommy and daddy. She knows love. And now she sings at the top of her lungs Jesus Loves Me, one phrase from Jesus Christ Superstar “Jesus Christ Superstar who in the world do they say you are? ” Her version. The seed of love has been planted. It is humbling to say the least.

The gift of having and giving love is not something I take for granted. For whatever reason the two days falling on the same day has struck a chord with me. It is like a fortuitous double shot of love in the air. The nourishing of the soul for self and for another. To have that in your life and be able to share in knowing there is a beauty in love. One that goes beyond words although words are very powerful. Actions evern more so. But it does not matter in the end if you just love one another as Jesus loves. Blessings.

Let us pray for those whom are in need of our prayers today and for those who seek the healing presence of love for them. Amen.

PS To you my granddaughter thank you so much for the beautiful card that you had made for me and for the words you shared with your mommy who wrote them down. You have made me feel crazy with love for you. Love Rara.

I was reading a post on FB from a site that shared a powerful message to me today. The author Donna Ashworth wrote: On those days when you miss someone the most, as though your memories are sharp enough to slice through skin and bone, remember how they loved you. Remember how they loved you and do that for yourself. In their name, in their honour. Love yourself, as they loved you. They would like that. On those days when you miss someone the most. Love yourself harder. Whew!! That really spoke to me today. So I thank the Wild Woman Sisterhood site for posting it.. Goodness it resonates with me.

I think of the many people who I have been blessed to have met, some who have passed and some who are too far way to be with them. There are moments that you just want to say….holy lightening I wish I could be with you today and be in your presence. Not sure why but I need to be but it sure would feel good. LOL. The comfort of someone who knows you, loves you as a person, and just makes you feel a joyful peace and quiet within.

Maybe it is coming out of Lent. Reflecting on, pausing and praying a bit more intensely. In our Diocese there is a wonderful Lenten action taking place where a daily post comes out for pause and pray. When you are silent and allow the quiet to surround you, your mind goes a wandering. For me, I guess that is what happens when you slow down. But at the same time, I am walking with Jesus in companionship, trying to figure out how to slowly release the busy. Doing a fine job. NOT. LOL. Oh well it is 40 days I keep reminding myself.

But a relationship with a person, however it takes shape, is like a hot chocolate on a winter’s day, warm and cozy. A big hug experience! Yes that is what it feels like, a big hug. So reading this piece from this author spoke to me directly this morning for some reason. Loving myself more when thinking of that person or persons because they have done that for me. Loved me for me.

Hugging a tree doesn’t really cut it. Nor does hugging my dog. Sorry Maggie May, no disrespect to you. LOL. Now if I hugged my daughter’s mastiff brindle, well now that is a hug and half. And not only that her big tail, which can knock the wind out of you if she gets you just right, shows her love unconditionally to me. Wriggling and wiggling while her big head tries to nuzzle you (or maybe she is trying to see if I got a treat). Who knows? Hahaha

No, it is the feeling when you are with that person and can’t get enough of them in that moment. I think we all have them. And you smile inside and outside, Can’t help it. There is a gratitude I feel. But to honour those people in all honesty would be a tribute to each one of them because they love with a loving heart. No mask, no facade, no armour, no edge, no conditons….just love. So I need to squeeze the daylight out of me with love today. Good thing I have many models (miss your lovin’ hugs mom) to choose from and think of from family, friends, and four pawed critters. It is going to be a good lovin’ today. Blessings.

Let us pray for those who are in need of our prayers today and for those who are honoured by the love they have shared. Amen