For the New Year

I can't remember when or where I found this poem but I make it my prayer as each New Year approaches. I hope it will touch your heart as it does mine.

Unmapped Miles Ahead

I wrap up
the last day of December.
Ahead hang months
Of unmapped miles.
Inside me
eagerness
tangles with trepidation.
Questions
rim my heart:
What Trial?
What Triumph?
What will meet me tomorrow?

Creator of our chronology-
You who set up seasons
split light from night
walked timelines in both directions-
You know what’s waiting.

Hold my hours in Your hands
tug me toward right
tap my shoulder and whisper instructions
fill my heart with Your directions.
I want to walk these days
with You.

Joan Rae Mills

Conversation with Grandboy N

We called on Christmas morning to wish our son and his family in Seattle a Merry Christmas. Grandboy N answered the phone with a hearty "Merry Christmas".
After the usual Christmas morning conversation about activities and gifts received, I asked him if they were going to their uncle's for Turkey.
"Nana, don't be a silly goose!" he said.
"What do you mean? How am I a silly goose?" I responded.
You're silly Nana, that's not Christmas food! That's Thanksgiving food!"(now that is my American Grandson speaking!)
"So what is Christmas food ?" I replied. "what are you going to eat at Uncle Curt's?"
He hesitated a minute and then said," Um.... well.. we're going to have some food: some salad, and some meat...."
"What kind of meat?"
"Um, pig bones I think."

I 'm sure he had a good Christmas dinner whatever it was he had!

Christmas #'s 3 and 4

I love Christmas

- although our children were all away at their in laws this year, we enjoyed the celebrations we had with them earlier and were now ready to celebrate yet again with our siblings and my Dad. Christmas Eve saw us on the road, braving our way through falling snow and a very white landscape. This was our view at 4:30 in the afternoon as we drove the TransCanada highway towards Abbotstford. Conditions were not great and we passed at least 6 vehicles that had involuntarily left the Highway. They were scattered along our route some just far enough off the road to not make it back on without a tow and others that had spun out and were facing the opposite direction entirely. I felt sorry for them as their Christmas Eve's plans were delayed. Fortunately there were a number of Highway patrol helping them out.

(As an aside - I think drivers in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley are among the worst when it comes to driving in less than perfect conditions!)

Fortunately we made it to our destination in our big 4-wheel drive

Duramax truck without incident.

Alot more snow had fallen in Abbotsford than had here at home and we enjoyed taking pictures of the trees - so beautifully adorned by our creator.

My sister was waiting to welcome us

Her patio was a fairyland with the coloured lights and mounds of snow.

We were a smaller group than usual: my sister and brother in law, 2 of his children,

my Dad and Harv and I - a precious family even if somewhat incomplete.

It was so good to celebrate Christmas together.

Oh, how we missed Mom though.

I'd had a hard day - having been surprised by grief on hearing the old German Christmas Carol "Leise Lieselt der Schnee" on the CBC call in Christmas Card program earlier in the day.

How grief comes suddenly in huge waves after long periods of normalcy defies my understanding.

We are so blessed to have such warm memories of Mom on Christmas Eve when she would shine - putting on such a wonderful and fancy spread for those she loved so much. this picture is from Christmas 2005.

For a change of pace, we had a wonderful meal of Fettucini Alfredo with Salmon and Pistachios, a salad and then Chocolate fondue with fruit for dessert.

On Christmas Day we picked up my Dad and headed to Langley where the snow was piled even higher and spent the afternoon and evening with Harv's brother, his family and their son's friend/charge from a Communitas Carehome in Abbotsford. http://www.communitascare.com/ This young man's parents came out from North Van to join us and we had the traditional and fabulous as always, turkey dinner.

Driving home the roads were much better , mostly bare and wet.

Yet another Christmas Day come and gone. Our prayer is that we will remember and keep Christmas Day and it's gift to us in our hearts all year long.

Happy Birthday Chris

Happy Birthday Chris.
What a bright light you are in our life. I remember the day you were born so vividly. I lay awake all that night praising God for a beautiful and healthy daughter. You were an extra special Christmas gift to Dad and I.

Two years later we received you as a gift all over again when God miraculously brought you back to life after drowning in our creek. How we praised God yet again!

As you grew, you charmed and delighted us with your unique personality. With an older and younger brother you held your own just fine. You were both a peacemaker and the catalyst for pranks and schemes. Your laughter filled our home.

You developed a self confidence that I admire, and showed compassion for others. Early on you choose to follow Christ and shared the light within you with everyone you encountered.

Today you are still bringing joy - to us, and to your family. You still seek out those that need a friend and your pranks and schemes now delight your 2 boys who love nothing better than to play with their mom.

We're so proud of you - the choices you have made, the way you care for others, the way you are so quick to offer help and how you work daily at being who God calls you to be.

Have a wonderful day Princess. We love you.

Dad and Mom