You've Got Mail!

love this mailbox that we saw up in Haliburton

 

The other day, while in a waiting room at Sunnybrook Hospital, we unexpectedly met someone we knew over thirty years ago.  The waiting time passed very quickly as we chatted and caught up with each other and talked about life and death.  Two days later Gerard said, "You've Got Mail!" I was surprised to receive a thoughtful note with the following piece enclosed:
 

I've seen this "poem" before.  The fact that he thought to send this to me brought tears to my eyes.  Very caring and thoughtful!  It does not completely resonate with me, but it does make me reflect on the effect cancer is having on my life.  It's true, cancer cannot do many of the above-mentioned things.  But cancer has a tendency to overshadow everything else. It has impacted my life in many ways.  It has shattered some of my hopes, but has not shattered my hope.  It has shaken my faith, disturbed my peace, challenged my courage and my spirit, and deeply touched my soul. 

 

I have had times when I felt that my life was too easy.  I prayed that God would send something to shake me out of my complacency and bring my faith alive again.  Well, as my dad would say, "Be careful what you pray for!"  This cancer has shaken me up.  It has taken me on a real spiritual journey. Living through the ups and downs with this cancer and the treatments has definitely touched and shaken and disturbed and challenged my complacency!

 

I have been brought down on my knees, crying out to the Lord.  It has brought me to the realization and confession that I cannot do this on my own.  In my weakness I have become stronger.  My life had to be broken down and cleared out to make room for renovations.  I still have doubts and plenty of questions, but also much reason for thanksgiving and praise.  The journey continues.   



Ai Weiwei's Forever Bicycles (See Below for Today's Post)

For some reason this post from a few weeks ago got deleted from my blog and then popped up here again.  I have no idea how to move it so please check below for today's post.  - Ellie

Here's what I found in my e-mail last week:

Hi Ellie, Have you been to see this? Looks super cool.  - Johnny 

Ai Weiwei's Forever Bicycles

 

And that's how I found out, from my brother far away in California, what's happening right here in Toronto!

After checking some details online, we jumped on the subway and went downtown Nathan Phillips Square to see it first by daylight. Then we went to see the church where Jeff and Alida are getting married and to find the location of where their reception will be.

 

After finding a bite to eat we saw the whole structure lit up.

There are 3, 144 bicycle frames in this installation!

 

This  part of Scotiabank Nuit Blanche in Toronto a few weekends ago, an enormous reconfiguration of Chinese artist Ai Weiwei’s Forever Bicycles

 

Cycling is one of the most common forms of transportation in China, but Weiwei manipulates the bicycles by removing their primary function and making them static.  The freedom associated with cycling is lost and the bicycles are piled together in a labyrinth-like way that renders them useless and immobile.  (Wei-Wei's commentary on social change in China.)

 

 

Come and Meet Hannah Again

This is the day that the Lord has made. 

Let us rejoice and be glad in it. 
Psalm. 118:24
 

This past spring and summer I wouldn't have thought I'd ever again feel as well as I have been feeling these last few weeks.  We are so thankful for every day! Life has been happy.  Some of the highlights of my past week are a visit from my sister and niece, helping my friend in her kindergarten class (after school), helping with the English Conversation group at church, lunch with our small group on Sunday, seeing a live performance of  "Les Miserable" (Gerard's birthday gift from the kids), Pilates class, lane swimming, and on Saturday a tea to welcome Hannah, our granddaughter.
 

cupcakes with little sheep or "Hannah" on them
 

A close friend of Rosemary's (our DIL and Hannah's mom) hosted a tea at the Old Mill Inn in Toronto, to give Rosemary's connections an opportunity to meet Hannah.  Hannah was celebrated in style!  It was beautiful - almost like a wedding - round tables with white linen table cloths and white draped chairs, centre pieces and candles, a photographer, fancy cupcakes, and a table overflowing with food!   Everything was colour-coordinated, from the cupcakes to the flowers, to Hannah's outfit! 

Little Miss Hannah in her frilly outfit 



 

one of the floral centre pieces

All a wonderful and  very generous gift!  Thank you, Andrea!

Today I'm Thankful for...

Thanksgiving Day has come and gone without a word or a picture about it here in my blog.  We did get together with our small group one day and with our immediate family the next.  I was so busy enjoying all the people around me, that I didn't take a single picture to show you.  Actually, our worship and music director asked me to share my testimony of God's grace in my life over the last few years, using pictures and words from my blog.  So on Thanksgiving Day I showed a lot of the pictures that you have seen here recently and said a few words.

look at these beautiful leaves from our very own little maple tree!

 



Even though I missed thanksgiving in my blog until now, today I'm thankful for...

* the beautifully coloured leaves everywhere.  I keep collecting them on my walks and just can't get enough of their beauty!
* my sister and my niece's visit with us over night.
* little Oscar saying, "Hi Oma!" and "Love you!" on the phone this morning. So adorable!
* the bounty of fresh produce available to us to make juice and smoothies.
* feeling so-o-o-o well these days! Looks like I'm going to be in good shape for Alida's wedding (only 10 days!).
* the daily reminders from God's Word that He walks with us and cares for us through all circumstances.
* for the wonderful weekend a few days ago. celebrating our church's 50 anniversary. Lots of memories, great singing, meaningful worship services, lots of food, reunions with many people we hadn't seen for years, seeing and hearing from all 6 pastors who have served our church over the 50 years - they were all there! All in all a very exciting weekend!

* for ready access to medical services.  In the last ten days we've spent a lot of time at Sunnybrook Hospital again with more appointments this morning and Friday morning.  Roles have been reversed.  Now Gerard is the patient.  He has been dealing with a urinary tract infection, had a cystoscopy to check his bladder, developed a fever, and had a variety of tests and scans.  Thanks to a combination of antibiotics things seem to be settling down. We would appreciate your prayers for his health. 

The other day on our way to yet another appointment I was grumbling inside myself about having to spend more time at the hospital, while we were so looking forward to no more appointments until December.  And then I scolded myself for being so ungrateful.  Gerard has stood by me for many, many long hours for 3 1/2 years already, and I'm already getting impatient after four appointments?!!

* And so I am very thankful for Gerard and for his unwavering patience and support.  And also for all the medical support which is so easily accessible to us.

Thank you, Lord, on this day, for your many good blessings!

Today's Walk to the Library

 

What a week it's been!  So much going on! So much to blog about, but not getting at it. I usually think about it just before bedtime, which is not a good time for me to be on the computer because the radiation from the computer sets my whole system on edge and then I can't sleep.  O well, I'll just quickly show you some highlights of my walk to the library today and save the rest for another day.

a beautiful double cosmos flower

and berries I saw along the way 

 

I borrowed the "Toy Story" video and a couple of "Thomas the Train" DVD's. Oscar often mentions "Woody" and has a Woody doll - which is a "Toy Story" character.  So now hopefully I'll know what he's talking about.  

 

And then... testing the big reveal in the grocery store 



Ta-dah!  Here's my new hair!

 

I am so excited that my new hair has grown so much in the last few weeks!  I had decided that after our church's 50th anniversary celebrations I would "come out" with my new hair.  I didn't want to do it earlier because I'd be meeting so many people who I haven't seen for a long time and thought my very short hair might be a little shocking for them. I didn't want my cancer to be the focus of every conversation. 

 

So, today was the big day!  I took my hat off at the grocery store where nobody knew me, just to see how it would feel.  Nobody reacted in any way of course, and I survived.  So this evening I participated in my Pilates class without any covering on my head.  No one said anything and again, it felt fine - just a little chilly.  I am so excited to have hair again!  

just couldn't resist taking another picture of coloured leaves

 

And then I put my hat back on and walked home through the park, over a carpet of colourful leaves, enjoying the crisp fresh air, grateful for another great day!

Happy 66th Birthday, Gerard!

Today we are celebrating Gerard.  He is a very special  Opa (grandfather)

 

 

 

Father and father-in-law

 

and supportive, dependable, caring, loyal and loving husband.

 

We all love you Gerard, Dad, Opa!
HAPPY 66th BIRTHDAY!

All Things Bright and Beautiful

All Things Bright and Beautiful
by Cecil F. Alexander

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
The Lord God made them all.
 
Each little flow'r that opens
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colours,
He made their tiny wings...
 
... He gave us to eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.
 

top and underside

 

 



 top and underside

* photos taken in Haliburton

Exercising and Volunteering Again

Newest 50th Anniversary banner at church

"Ere Zij God" 

(Translation: "Glory to God")

 

This morning I went lane swimming for the first time in just over a year!  I got the royal "welcome back" and it felt great to be swimming again. Other news is that I've started attending a weekly Pilates class held at the WCSchool gym. Exercising in a group is way more fun than doing it by yourself in front of the TV! 

 

And then the last bit of news is that I have a new tiny volunteer job!  One of my friends teaches kindergarten at this school.  So I arrive an hour before the Pilates class starts and spend that time helping her with odds and ends in her classroom; cutting name cards, filing art work, repairing art file folders, etc.  A very small volunteer job that I can manage right now.  It feels so-o-o good to be doing something for someone else instead of being inwardly focussed on my own health and wellbeing all the time!  

Can You Believe these Colours?!

Can you believe these colours?! I couldn't resist collecting these leaves on my walk to church yesterday, and then putting them on our table to share the wealth with others at our soup/chili supper.

 Wow!

 

Love this poster that I found at the church where we had Alida's wedding shower - especially the very bottom line.

Showers of Blessings

Yesterday afternoon we were blessed with love and support at a wedding shower for Alida. It was hosted by Jeff's mom and her friends. They showered her very generously with lots of gifts.
 

Rosemary and Melanie helping Alida with the gifts

 

sleeping cousins - Hannah (L) and Charlie (R) 

 

While the mothers were busy helping Alida open her gifts, I got to watch Hannah and Charlie who were on the floor beside me, totally unaware of the celebration going on around them.  

 

unique wedding dress cake shaped out of iced cupcakes 

new to me - putting the bows on an apron!

 

At the shower I met women from Jeff's family and his home church, and his mom's friends most of whom have known Jeff for a long time.  One woman was paired up  with him as a prayer partner when he was a young teen. She has prayed for him every day since and he is now 32!  A number of women assured us that Alida was an answer to their prayers; they have been praying for the right woman for Jeff for years! His mom's prayer partner prayed a blessing over Alida and Jeff's relationship and over our lunch.  She assured us that the women of her church would always be there for Jeff and Alida in prayer, support, and advice.  It was wonderful!

 

Once again I was impressed by the blessing of family, friends and church community and what a gift it is to be surrounded by such a large circle of love and support.

How Great Thou Art!

O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
consider all the works thy hand has made,
I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,
     thy power throughout the universe displayed:
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God; to thee,
How great thou art, how great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God; to thee,
How great thou art, how great thou art!

 

 

When through the woods and forest glades I wander,
and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,
and hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze...

 

 

 

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God; to thee,
How great thou art, how great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God; to thee,
How great thou art, how great thou art!
- Carl Gustav Boberg 

 

* pictures taken last week in Haliburton

Thursday Visits

All dressed up on a Thursday morning!

Oscar's into hugging trees and telephone poles now

Charlie has more hair than I do, but not for long! Mine's growing!

So Much Beauty on our Colour Tour

So much beauty on our colour tour yesterday!  We oohed and aahed our way through the Haliburton region. God's creation is just amazing!  Trees that were green last week are now covered in yellow, orange, red, and brown leaves.  "Spectacular, beautiful, gorgeous, amazing, awesome, marvelous" - It's hard to find the words that adequately capture the beauty and marvel of what we saw yesterday. 

 



 

So I tried to capture it in pictures instead.  So many pictures!  I've been spending a lot of time sorting and deleting pictures today.  Many were taken from the car window so were kind of a colourful blur. Choosing only a few for this post was hard.  It's time for me to get off the computer, so here are just a few pictures to give you a little taste of what we feasted our eyes on yesterday.