Showing posts with label Christmas 2012. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas 2012. Show all posts

Friday, January 4, 2013

Journey Home ~ Part 2

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson

I returned home from my Christmas travels on December 27, 2012. This is part 2 of the series of photos on the road. Part 1 can be viewed here.  There will be one more installment of photos in this series. I hope you enjoy them.



 









I'm linking up with Skywatch Friday today. Please have a look at all the other marvellous skies around the globe. 

Happy New Year! May you all have a wonderful 2013.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Journey to the Moon

Christmas is over for another year. I hope that each of you enjoyed the day in your own way wherever you were and however you celebrated.  This year's celebration was different for me and my family.  One brother and my nephew and I drove to the north a few hours away from where I live and there we spent a few days visiting my mother and my niece.

This photo is on the highway going northeast from Vancouver. One doesn't usually see the mountains so clearly defined. On a rainy day you cannot see them.  On a clear day it is usually too bright to see the mountainous outline.

I love the wintery looking sun.




The mountains are beautifully silhouetted today.

I rented a motel room with a small kitchen unit in case I decided to cook something while I was away. It turns out that I only cooked once (bacon and eggs).  But the kitchen unit was nice to have as I was able to keep juices, fruits and breakfast cereal on hand.  I like to minimize eating out in the restaurant. It really gets tiresome if you are on a road trip.

We ordered Chinese take out for one dinner and had more than enough for two meals for all of us.  I did eat in a restaurant for dinner on one night. I had spaghetti and meatballs instead of the usual fare and it was a nice change.  For Christmas Dinner we again ordered take away turkey dinner. The dinner included freshly roasted turkey with mashed potatoes, green beans, stuffing, gravy and toast. My niece and nephew's late mother used to make waffles on Christmas Day so in honour of that we also ordered waffles.  My brother did all the running back and forth to the restaurant and the room, which was nice of him!

These farmlands are between 1 and 1 1/2 hours drive northeast of Vancouver.

After dinner and gift opening on Christmas Day, I took  my niece to see the movie "The Hobbit" in 3 D. It was a very good film and I look forward to the sequel.  Seeing a movie with my niece on Christmas Day is a tradition.  I used to take my mother to the movie on Christmas Day as it was the one day of the year that she would venture to go and see a movie.  But she hasn't been able to go to a  movie for some years so now I take my niece.  My niece loves popcorn and she looks forward to an annual movie with her aunt (and sometimes other members of our family too).
 
In between all these activities, we also spent a lot of time visiting my mother at her residence and trying to make sure any errands and jobs she needed help with, were done.  We put up some decorations and photos for her and generally helped her get organized. If all goes according to plan, my brother will return next month for a shorter visit with her as he picks up a medical lift chair that mom used to use.  I will either keep it at my home and use it or try to sell it.


Seeing mist on the mountains always reminds me of the movie of Diane Fossey, "Gorillas in the Mist".

We are getting closer to our destination and the sky is breaking clear in a few spots. I love the winter wonderland all around us.
 
I had a difficult time on this trip. Some of you might remember me having had numerous issues with my right knee. That issues comes and goes but I can usually manage quite well.  However, the night before I was to leave for my Christmas trip, I had such enormous pain in my left leg and I could barely walk the next day.  The pain and compromised walking continued the entire time I was away.  I almost cancelled my trip but I did manage to rally myself and get out of town.  Anti-inflammatories and over the counter pain medicine did not help.

When I checked in at the motel, the clerk mentioned that she had a similar knee experience to mine.  When her doctor sent her for a leg scan it was discovered that poor blood circulation had blocked her veins.  The solution was to put a stent in her veins but she said she still suffers from pain. I do not know if this is my problem but it certainly sounds like it could be.   All along I had been thinking my knee problems were caused by arthritis or muscular issues.  I really do need to get my doctor to check it all out. 

Since I managed to get away on the Christmas trip, I also tried my best to enjoy my time.  I had a lot of help from my nephew and my brother in managing with the daily tasks and for that I am very grateful.

I spotted the moon coming out and managed to capture it before it went behind the clouds.

I am now back home now.  I'd like to rest but I have an eye appointment in the morning. I really don't feel like going but it is better to get it out of the way before my many appointments coming in the month of January.

I love to see the moon wherever I go.


I hope you enjoyed the photos today. Have a marvellous and safe New Year's celebration if I don't visit with you before then.

Please join others around the world for more beautiful photos of the sky at Skywatch Friday.


Thursday, December 20, 2012

Merry Christmas Everyone!



nutcracker 'Twas the Night Before Christmas nutcracker
(or A Visit from St. Nicholas)
by Clement Clarke Moore 






'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there. 


horse


The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads.
And Mama in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap. 


 



When out on the roof there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
tore open the shutter, and threw up the sash. 


bells


The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
gave the lustre of midday to objects below,
when, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer. 






With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles, his coursers they came,
and he whistled and shouted and called them by name:

"Now Dasher! Now Dancer!
Now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid!
On, Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch!
To the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away!
Dash away all!" 



horse


As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky
so up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
with the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too. 

bells

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
the prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head and was turning around,
down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack. 



His eyes--how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
and the beard on his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
that shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly. 

bells

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
and I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. 

horse

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
and filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose. 



He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, 'ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!" 



I hope you liked this well known poem which always speaks to me of Christmas. 

I am well prepared for Christmas this year. I managed to undertake my parties and preparations in a leisurely pace though I did have a hectic time with medical and dental appointments I was trying to squeeze in before the end of the year. 
I decorated my small abode a week later than originally planned but that worked out fine since I was too busy with appointments to enjoy the Christmas decor before hand. I don't "do" tons of decorations. I like to keep things simple. I've "sprinkled" photos of my decorations throughout the lines of the poem.

To my mind, absolutely none of these things that we've come to associate with Christmas (decorating the house, decorating trees, giving gifts to one another, attending parties, visits to family members, going into debt [for many], getting stressed out about the holiday preparations), has anything to do with the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. In fact, I would venture to guess that most of these things are actually displeasing to him. But this isn't a post about judgement.


I know that many people are trying to keep their focus on the real  reason for the season at the same time they are trying to juggle the other demands of the season with all the things we have come to accept in western society as Christmas.

  In my own life, I long for a simpler time and a turning back to what is real and true.  I want to honour my Lord as much as I can through what I do and how I choose to live life.  I am learning as I go and nothing is difficult in that regard.  I think that God is just leading me step by step to a different way of life and it is good. 

I think you will agree that one of the best parts of the season is when we get to spend time with family and friends.
So let me take this moment to wish each of you joy, peace and love and a happy time with those that you love. 
There are many in this season who will be alone with no one to love and show them care. If you are one of these dear ones, I pray you would reach out to those around you, especially those that have no one else.  It will help you feel less alone and you will feel good cheer for moving beyond your comfort zone. 

  If you are someone who is blessed to have many loved ones in your life but you know someone who doesn't have friends and loved ones near, or someone who is a senior or a  "shut in", I pray you would  take some time to show them some love and joy this season in whatever ways you feel comfortable with (a card, an invitation to coffee or a meal, an offer to lend a hand with a chore, invitation and a ride to a service or an outing, a home made gift, etc.). You will really be giving a gift that brings lasting memories to you both.

Wishing you and your loved ones all a very




 MERRY CHRISTMAS!

(see you in the New Year)






And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luke 2:7
   




 

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Now that I have seen....

I am responsible.


People often wonderful why I have thrown my heart and soul into Missions of Hope in Kenya. Though this video and song are about Rwanda, they express my heart for Kenya and my hopes for Kenyans. I have been to Kenya several times.  I have seen the poverty and the hardship with my own eyes, and now I am responsible.

Lyrics to "Albertine"

I am sitting still
I think of Angelique
her mothers voice over me
And the bullets in the wall where it fell silent
And on a thousandth hill, I think of Albertine
there in her eyes what I don't see with my own
Rwanda

now that I have seen, I am responsible
Faith without deeds is dead
now that I have held you in my own arms, I cannot let go till you are

I am on a plane across a distant sea
But I carry you in me
and the dust on, the dust on, the dust on my feet
Rwanda

I will tell the world, I will tell them where I've been
I will keep my word
I will tell them Albertine

I am on a stage, a thousand eyes on me
I will tell them, Albertine
I will tell them, Albertine

Though I am not on a stage with a thousand eyes on me and my platform is small in the scheme of things;  the work(s) I do are what I can do  in my own circumstances, and I am willing.  I will tell the world.

Edwin

Since I last wrote about the missions, my friend Jonah, overseer of the Missions of Hope, contracted typhoid fever while in Uganda at his convocation and he has been in hospital.  Also Edwin, the young man in the photo above who is battling cancer, has been hospitalized. Please keep them in your prayers.




Orphans

If you have already started thinking about Christmas gifts for family and loved ones in 2012, you might want to consider giving of a different nature this year. Missions of Hope has some unique gift ideas for you. Click here.

I have also started to add items to my Etsy shop. You can see the items here. More will be added over the coming days.  All proceeds go to the Missions of Hope.

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