tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73300742837771303452024-03-12T22:32:44.472-06:00I AM A WORK IN PROGRESSMy mission: To boldly go where I have never gone before and to try things I have never tried before.Ruth A.M. Sakstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725795539906194651noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330074283777130345.post-77800257986501373962013-12-18T20:07:00.001-07:002013-12-18T20:07:04.851-07:00Good Quote<em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A friend can tell you things you don't want to tell yourself.<br />
~Frances Ward Weller</span></em><div class="blogger-post-footer">Be well my friends and keep on growing.</div>Ruth A.M. Sakstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725795539906194651noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330074283777130345.post-3649514421756018642013-12-15T19:57:00.001-07:002013-12-15T19:57:25.696-07:00Great Quote<em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.<br />
~William James</span></em><div class="blogger-post-footer">Be well my friends and keep on growing.</div>Ruth A.M. Sakstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725795539906194651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330074283777130345.post-18478875121324328052013-12-07T15:09:00.001-07:002013-12-07T15:10:53.715-07:00PerfectionSir Winston Churchill is quoted as saying, "They say that nobody is perfect. Then they tell you practice makes perfect. I wished they'd make up their minds."<br />
<br />
I agree with you wholeheartedly Mr. Churchill.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Be well my friends and keep on growing.</div>Ruth A.M. Sakstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725795539906194651noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330074283777130345.post-50018697759333286172013-11-27T21:52:00.000-07:002013-11-27T22:04:25.050-07:00Book to RecommendI am reading an interesting book that I would recommend. The book is called <u>God is Not Mad at You</u> by Joyce Meyer. The subtitle reads "You can experience real love, acceptance and guilt-free living". That sure sounds like something I want in my life.<br />
<br />
If this is something you are struggling with or just want reaffirmed in your life I encourage you to read this book.<br />
<br />
<br />
God loves us because He wants to, not because we deserve it. A point to ponder.<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Be well my friends and keep on growing.</div>Ruth A.M. Sakstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725795539906194651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330074283777130345.post-85603894847434076552013-11-23T23:09:00.000-07:002013-11-23T23:25:00.035-07:00Teeth This week I had a molar pulled. It has been quite a while since I had a tooth pulled and I had forgotten what it was like. Or maybe it affected me differently this time because of my age. The tooth came out on Tuesday. It is now Saturday and my jaw still hurts.<br />
<br />
Hopefully this will be the last tooth I lose.<br />
<br />
Next week I go to the denturist to have modifications made to my partial plate to account for the pulled tooth.<br />
<br />
I will be glad when the pain is all gone and my partial fits properly. Then hopefully eating will be more enjoyable.<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Be well my friends and keep on growing.</div>Ruth A.M. Sakstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725795539906194651noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330074283777130345.post-16035595085501352352013-11-17T18:10:00.000-07:002013-11-17T18:10:28.857-07:00Fear<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it." - Bill Cosby</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">I found the above quote on a <u>Chicken Soup for the Soul</u> website. It intrigued me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">I know that fear is something that many times holds me back from some things that could have been good for me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">So now I need to stop when I find myself anxious or afraid to take that necessary step, and make the decision to want it more than I am afraid of it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Thanks Bill.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Be well my friends and keep on growing.</div>Ruth A.M. Sakstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725795539906194651noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330074283777130345.post-89928893741097770842013-11-14T19:51:00.003-07:002013-11-14T19:51:32.573-07:00I'm Back<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It has been a while since I visited my blog and wrote something original. I am going to work on being more regular in my writing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This fall I made the decision that I was doing to make a career of writing articles and hopefully a book as well. I look at this as a way of getting back into life. My life has been very stagnant and not going anywhere. But now I have a purpose and many goals.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I thought my life was over when I turned 50. However, I am now 56 and have started working on the second half of my life with a refreshed look. Now I have a reason to get up in the morning.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">See you tomorrow.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Be well my friends and keep on growing.</div>Ruth A.M. Sakstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725795539906194651noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330074283777130345.post-39148235021615600062011-12-26T22:38:00.000-07:002011-12-26T22:38:36.847-07:00Proverb<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair." (Chinese Proverb)</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Be well my friends and keep on growing.</div>Ruth A.M. Sakstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725795539906194651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330074283777130345.post-49734028407236530022011-11-21T15:47:00.001-07:002011-11-21T15:51:15.616-07:00The Butterfly Effect<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"With a little perspective," Jones said one day, "you can live <em>a life of permanent purpose</em>."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">When I asked what he meant, the old man answered with a question. "Do you sometimes find yourself unconsciously judging your actions by level of importance?" I frowned a bit, not certain I understood. "For instance," he continued, "the time you spend with friends is important, but the time you spend with family, is <em>more</em> important. You might rank an hour fishing as very important, thirty minutes visiting a sick friend in the hospital much more important than the fishing, and a sixty second conversation with a convenience store clerk as not very important at all."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">I nodded my understanding and he returned to his initial point. "When you <em>know</em> that everything matters -- that <em>every move</em> counts as much as any other -- you will begin living a life of permanent purpose. A life of permanent purpose will make you a better parent, a better spouse and a more valuable friend. Your productivity and financial success will soar to new heights while the old days of uncertainty, doubt, and depression fade into the past."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">(from <em>The Butterfly Effect</em> by Andy Andrews)</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Be well my friends and keep on growing.</div>Ruth A.M. Sakstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725795539906194651noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330074283777130345.post-15928306386872612942011-11-16T22:50:00.002-07:002011-11-17T07:35:35.120-07:00Theology<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">"<span style="background-color: white;">Never rewrite your theology</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">to accommodate a tragedy</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white;">that is going on in your life</span>."</span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">(Rev. John Hagee)</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Be well my friends and keep on growing.</div>Ruth A.M. Sakstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725795539906194651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330074283777130345.post-60157310310362681282011-05-20T08:48:00.001-06:002011-05-20T08:51:22.830-06:00Spring<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This morning I was awakened by a chorus of birds singing. It was a much better way to be awoken then by my alarm clock. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">This spring I have been more cognisant of the birds who have returned to the area <span style="background-color: white;">where</span> I live.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">I have also been more aware of the trees and grass turning green and flowers blooming. Earlier this month I found some tulips planted at the school where I went to vote. Two of the plants <span style="background-color: white;">had already blossomed.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">This year I am going to enjoy every nuance of God's beautiful creation to the fullest.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Thank You Abba Father for the wonderful creation you have made and for the ability to enjoy it.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Be well my friends and keep on growing.</div>Ruth A.M. Sakstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725795539906194651noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330074283777130345.post-41184474460032486682011-05-14T17:22:00.000-06:002011-05-14T17:22:03.144-06:00A Life Well Lived?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today I helped out at a funeral that was held at our church. By helped out I mean that I did the multimedia for the service and handed out some bulletins.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">The funeral was for a woman who had lived to be 102 years old and had lived in her own home until about a month before her passing. I did not know this woman or her family.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">As I looked through the bulletin prior to the service and listened to the eulogy given by a son-in-law and testimonies by two grandsons, the only things I came away really knowing about this woman were that she liked to cook and was good at it and she liked growing vegetables. There were vague references to her hospitality.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">There was no reference to her spiritual life, if she had one.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">I came away from the funeral feeling a bit sick. I was not so much sick because I was left wondering about this lady's spiritual life. Rather I was sick because I was left wondering how comforting could it be to the family that the only memories they had of a mother, mother-in-law and grandmother were about food.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Now I am not naive. I've attended funerals of unsaved people before, and I admit that I haven't come away from them feeling very uplifted or satisfied. But none of those have been for people who lived to be 102. Their eulogies were more meaningful in that they had accomplished more than just being able to make a lot of food and force people to eat it.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">The irony of the day came when we went downstairs for the luncheon. All of the food provided was store bought. There were stale store bought subs that had been cut into wedges, pre-cut fruit and vegetables, and pastries.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">I don't know how long I will live but I hope at my death I will leave a legacy that put something substantial into the lives of the people around me and that I made a difference because I lived.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Be well my friends and keep on growing.</div>Ruth A.M. Sakstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725795539906194651noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330074283777130345.post-60831476373382826732011-05-09T15:10:00.000-06:002011-05-09T15:10:27.667-06:00Belated Mother's Day<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yesterday was Mother's Day. It is not one of my favorite days of the year because I lost my Mom almost 10 years ago.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Yesterday I had lunch with a friend who had also lost his mother a number of years ago. We discussed our mothers and how we dealt with the day. He challenged me to recall a happy Mother's Day. And sadly I could not remember one. I could remember a Mother's Day that was really sad but not a happy one.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">The realization of not being able to remember a happy Mother's Day was disheartening. It is possible that because of mental issues that I deal with could have buried some of my memories too deep for me to recall. Or they could have masked the good memories.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">I have no doubt that I loved my Mom very much and I miss her deeply. Yesterday I asked God to give my Mom a hug from me and tell her that I love her and miss her.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">I'm not sure if I want to dig around in my memories of past Mother's Day. Maybe it is just best to think of today and let God deal with my past.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">I'm just glad I had the mother I did and thank God that He knew which mom was the best for me.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Belated Happy Mother's Day, Mom. I love you and miss you.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Be well my friends and keep on growing.</div>Ruth A.M. Sakstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725795539906194651noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330074283777130345.post-32005187187986676712011-03-31T23:42:00.001-06:002011-03-31T23:46:02.214-06:00Wasted Days and Wasted Nights<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today we had beautiful weather here in Edmonton. The temperature rose to +14 C. It would have been a perfect day for a walk in the ravine near my home. Or I could have sat out on my balcony and enjoyed the day. Or I could have gone to the library to pick up the books that are on hold for me.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">I could have done all of these things, BUT!!!! Instead I made the choice to stay inside my home and not even open the patio doors. I was feeling tired this afternoon so I took a nap under the bed covers I've used all winter.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">I did accomplish some things indoors today but I could have put them off for another day or for later in the day when it began cooling off.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">I made some very bad choices today and I will live with some regret. But I don't have to wallow in those bad choices tomorrow. Tomorrow I can choose to make better choices. This is a lesson I seem to have to learn quite frequently - making a better job of the choices I have before me.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Hopefully I'll have less and less "wasted days and wasted nights" to regret over and more and more "productive days and restful nights".</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">May you have a productive day and a restful night.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Be blessed.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Be well my friends and keep on growing.</div>Ruth A.M. Sakstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725795539906194651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330074283777130345.post-92077334911443291732011-03-30T22:00:00.000-06:002011-03-30T22:00:16.191-06:00Bless You<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm back again. I have been negligent in my writings. But I'm going to be more diligent in my writing and sharing with my readers what I am learning and growing spiritually.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">I just left a comment on the blog of my friend Brenda <span style="background-color: white;">Leyland, "It's a Beautiful Life". If you go to her blog she is having</span> a special give away. When I left my comment on Brenda's blog I had to type in a code. The code was "bessedu". There are a few letters missing but to me it said "bless you".</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">So today I wish to bless you and may you have an even more blessed day tomorrow.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Be well my friends and keep on growing.</div>Ruth A.M. Sakstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725795539906194651noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330074283777130345.post-92199337049144835672011-01-04T11:59:00.000-07:002011-01-04T11:59:54.574-07:00A Joyful New Year<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">On January 1, 2011 our family welcomed another member with the birth of little Izabel Juliet. She weighed 7 pounds and 11 ounces. She has lots of black hair and looks exactly like her brother did when he was born.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">It was an exciting thing to be able to hold her when she was only a day old.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">I am so thankful that God has given another precious gift to our family that we can rejoice in.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">As we enjoy Izabel and the other great nieces and nephews, we also look forward to the next little one who is due in June.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Thank you God for Cole, Sara, Elijah, Izabel, Jaden, Lauren, and Joseph. They are such a blessing to our family.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Be well my friends and keep on growing.</div>Ruth A.M. Sakstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725795539906194651noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330074283777130345.post-3357575553407399652011-01-03T14:54:00.000-07:002011-01-03T14:54:15.777-07:00Old Age<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Do you feel old as the new year begins? Don't think of yourself as being old? Think of yourself as being "chronologically challenged"?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Being "....challenged" seems to be the norm these days instead of being called "handicapped".</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">So enjoy your challenge in a positive way and make the most of it. Don't let it be a negative thing that drags you down.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Be well my friends and keep on growing.</div>Ruth A.M. Sakstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725795539906194651noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330074283777130345.post-42208911313433800122010-11-17T23:26:00.001-07:002010-11-17T23:28:11.835-07:00What is Old?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I believe Scripture teaches that humanly speaking time is nothing else than a gift of God, a precious package of life sent to us by our Heavenly Father, individually gift-wrapped and with our name on it...The last sands are dropping through the hourglass. What will we do with the time that is left to us?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">--- Sherwood Eliott Wirt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">"I Don't Know What Old Is, But Old is Older Than Me"</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Be well my friends and keep on growing.</div>Ruth A.M. Sakstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725795539906194651noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330074283777130345.post-74560779700488710862010-09-16T18:00:00.000-06:002010-09-16T18:00:18.113-06:00Something to Ponder<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"The characteristic of Christianity lies in the fact that its source, depth, and riches are involved with the knowledge of God's Son. It matters not how much we know of methods or doctrines or power. What really matters is the knowledge of the Son of God."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">-- Watchman Nee</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Be well my friends and keep on growing.</div>Ruth A.M. Sakstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725795539906194651noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330074283777130345.post-78439014420739157422010-09-14T02:22:00.000-06:002010-09-14T02:22:00.145-06:00Quote<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Christianity hasn't been tired and found wanting -- it has been found difficult and not tried."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">-- G.K. Chesterton</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Be well my friends and keep on growing.</div>Ruth A.M. Sakstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725795539906194651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330074283777130345.post-35479668843505424442010-09-14T02:20:00.000-06:002010-09-14T02:20:04.091-06:00Quote<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"A woman is like a tea bag - you knever know how strong she is until she gets in hot water."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">-- Eleanor Roosevelt</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Be well my friends and keep on growing.</div>Ruth A.M. Sakstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725795539906194651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330074283777130345.post-72915972501947183152010-09-04T13:08:00.004-06:002010-09-04T13:17:47.003-06:00Journalling<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As I mentioned in my blog on "Mice", Lois read a number of quotes from her mother's journals during the eulogy.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Each time she mentioned that she was quoting from a journal it made me think about how much a journal can be a blessing to later generations. I now regret destroying all my journals during one of my many moves because there are times I wished I could go back and read about things that I had written in the past.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">But I cannot sit here and wallow in regrets. I can start today at doing better at writing in my journal and holding on to each book I write in the future.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">So here's to all the today and tomorrow journalling that I will be doing.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Have a happy day writing in your journal.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Be well my friends and keep on growing.</div>Ruth A.M. Sakstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725795539906194651noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330074283777130345.post-11058660902423892312010-09-03T23:55:00.001-06:002010-09-03T23:59:31.528-06:00Mice<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today I did the multimedia for the funeral of a lady from our congregation. I didn't know the woman but I feel that I can minister to the grieving family in this way.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Martha's daughter gave the eulogy. She interspersed her talk with quotes from Martha's journals. One of the things Lois read was a poem found in Martha's papers. The poem was:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em><strong>Mice - by Rose Fyleman</strong></em></span><br />
<strong><em><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"></span></em></strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><em><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think mice </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">are rather nice.</span></strong></em><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em><strong>Their tails are long,</strong></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em><strong>Their faces small,</strong></em></span><br />
<em><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">They haven't any chins </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">at all.</span></strong></em><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em><strong>Their ears are pink,</strong></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em><strong>Their teeth are white.</strong></em></span><br />
<em><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">They run around t</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">he house at night.</span></strong></em><br />
<em><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">They nibble things t</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">hey shouldn't touch</span></strong></em><br />
<em><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And no one seems t</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">o like them much.</span></strong></em><br />
<em><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But I think mice </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">are nice.</span></strong></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Why would I care about this poem read as part of a eulogy? Because back when I was in elementary school in Saskatchewan it was mandatory that the lower grades (1-4) memorize poems and then say them in public speaking contests.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">In grade 2 I memorized the poem "Mice" and went on to win a medal in the district public speaking contest for my grade. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">It was my Mom who helped me memorize the poem.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Martha passed away on August 27, 2010. My Mom passed away on August 30, 2001. Martha's funeral was held on September 3, 2010. My Mom's funeral was held on September 4, 2001. Martha was only 2 years older than my Mom.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">After the funeral service was over, I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and went to the fellowship hall to find Lois. I told her about my connection with the poem and about my Mom. Lois told me she was glad I had told her my story and she was planning on putting it in her journal tonight.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">I don't think it was a coincidence that I had been asked to do the multimedia for Martha's funeral and that Lois read that particular poem. I think it was a God-thing. I am glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and spoke to Lois.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">My Mom didn't know Martha here on earth but maybe they have now met in heaven and may even be talking about the poem "Mice".</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Be well my friends and keep on growing.</div>Ruth A.M. Sakstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725795539906194651noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330074283777130345.post-26769663229723570572010-08-31T18:00:00.002-06:002010-09-02T23:52:13.718-06:00Handling Losses<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The last few days have been sad and stressful for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">On Sunday we had a farewell service for one of our pastors. Both he and his wife have helped me in so many ways along my journey. It is very sad to see them leave and make that <strong><em>dreadful move to Calgary</em></strong>. (Just joking.) I will miss them a great deal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">May God bless you, Pastor Doug, Roxy, Bradley and Bethany. May you be a blessing where God has placed you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Yesterday was the ninth anniversary of my Mom's death. I spent most of yesterday staying away from interaction with any one. I needed to be alone in my grief. I miss my Mom a great deal. We were very close and I some times feel that she was torn away from me before I was ready to let go of her. But, I guess, God does not make mistakes. His timing is always right.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">What bothers me most about Mom's death back in 2001 are the facts that Mom did not get to see the weddings of her grandsons and now the births of her great-grandsons and great-granddaughters.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">And she wouldn't have seen how far along I have come dealing with my depression and health issues.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Mom would be proud to see how the boys and Allison have grown in maturity, physically, mentally and spiritually. Her purse would be weighted down with pictures of the kids to show anyone who showed a miniscule interest.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">God, please bless Mom in a special way today. Please let her know that I miss her. Also let her see her grandsons, granddaughters, great-grandsons and great-daughters. She would have been so proud. I LOVE YOU MOM!!!!!</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Be well my friends and keep on growing.</div>Ruth A.M. Sakstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725795539906194651noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330074283777130345.post-91465891971001152392010-08-25T22:06:00.002-06:002010-09-02T23:49:38.902-06:00Carpe Diem<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Many years ago I was walking in a mall in downtown Edmonton. I paused at the jewelry kiosk and looked at the rings. I don't normally wear rings but one ring on display caught my attention.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">A short time before this I had read a book by Tony Campolo entitled "<em>Carpe Diem</em> (Seize the Day).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">The ring that caught my attention was one that another customer was looking at. This ring had the words <em>Carpe Diem</em> on it. The other customer tried the ring on but it was too small. He asked the sales person if they could size the ring so it would fit him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">The sales person told the other customer that it was a one of a kind ring and it would only be sold in the size and shape it was originally made. The customer put the ring down and walked away muttering under his breath.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">I picked up the ring and put it on my finger. It fit me perfectly. I decided that was a sign that I should buy the ring and I did. I decided that I would seize the day and the opportunity to have that ring.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">I don't always wear the ring but I do try to live by the saying on the ring "Seize the day". I haven't always succeeded in making the best use of each day since I bought that ring but I know that when I do make a conscious effort to do what I believe is the right thing for me to do on any given day that day is a good day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">I just relocated that ring today and I have put it on because I want to make today and the days ahead more productive.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">So here's to better and more productive days.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Be well my friends and keep on growing.</div>Ruth A.M. Sakstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725795539906194651noreply@blogger.com2