How God is speaking to us...

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

This has been our prayer and God has graciously been giving us His incredible joy, peace, and hope as we trust in Him.
It is also our prayer for you!




Wednesday 29 May 2013

Home again!!

I just returned home this afternoon from my time with Vi and Lois in Victoria last week. We had a wonderful three days together, and then I drove Lois back home to Springfield, OR and stayed with her and Duane for a few days. It's very good to be home again. Pictures will be posted soon!!

But here are a few pictures I promised from my time in Regina with Tim, Kim and the children. Our four adorable grandchildren are posing behind the framed pictures of each of them with Papa!!



We also visited Kim's mom who lives just west of Moose Jaw. The kids affectionately call her "Tractor Grandma"!!



I'm having a bit of trouble attaching all the pictures that I'd like to, so must wait until I get some assistance. I'm realizing more every day how much I depended on Bob. Help with the computer is one of those areas.

But I most miss his companionship. It was so lonely driving home alone from Oregon--the first time I've done that. I stopped and ate all by myself in one of our favourite restaurants at noon today, which was a strange and fairly unsatisfying experience. AND I recognized the advantage of having a more competent navigator along, as I made a wrong turn and ended up going a few miles out of my way!!! I have so much to learn.

Wednesday 22 May 2013

Time with Family

Last week I spent a wonderful six days in Regina with Tim, Kim, and their four little ones and Barbie. I was also able to connect with many old friends from our almost thirty years in Regina. I took lots of pictures--with my new iPhone!!!!! Now I just need to learn how to download them onto my computer and post some on the blog.

The grandchildren are pure delight. I framed a photo of each of the kids with Papa and they love having their very own pictorial memory of times with Papa Bob. It's such a comfort to be able to talk so freely with them all about Papa, cherishing memories and imagining what he's doing in heaven and how we will join him some day. What an amazing, certain hope we have!! I just began re-reading Randy Alcorn's book "Heaven" with more interest and anticipation than ever.

Bob's sisters Vi and Lois and I are spending a few days in Victoria right now. The three of us have planned special Sister Times together whenever Lois is back in the States. We were actually all together in early March when Bob passed away and their presence was such a gift. But we decided that we needed to spend a more relaxing and fun time together, so this is it. I'll be driving Lois back to Eugene, OR and spending a few days with them before returning home towards the end of the month.

Almost every day there are poignant reminders of my life without Bob that catch me by surprise. Like when filling in a "patient information" form at the chiropractor's and the jolt of coming to the category of declaring my marital status. And sitting across the aisle on the airplane from a couple who lovingly took one another's hand to hold as the plane was landing. And the automatic instinct of wanting to phone Bob and de-brief on the day's events as I've been travelling (as I so often did without him in the past few years).

I continue to receive cards, messages, and phone calls from family and friends who are supporting me in prayer and I'm so very grateful. And I love to keep hearing about what Bob has meant to so many of you over the years. I feel so very blessed to have been his wife and best friend over 43 years.

Well, Lois and Vi are ready to go for a walk so I must bring this to a close with the promise of including pictures with my next posting.

Wednesday 8 May 2013

GREAT NEWS!!

Our kids Tim and Kim in Regina just phoned tonight with wonderful news. Kim was to have an appointment with her oncologist tomorrow to get the results of her most recent bone scan and CT scan, so she's been on "pins and needles"--especially since both Bob and Jim have passed away from their cancers recently. Although her prognosis has always been much better, she naturally has been wondering whether she's "next" in the lineup to heaven.

Well, the nurse phoned today to reschedule Kim's appointment to Monday and Kim asked if she could give her the results of the tests on the phone and was told once again that she's ALL CLEAR!!! Isn't that just the most awesome news?? Just had to share it with you all so you can rejoice with us too and give thanks to the Lord.

I've been home now for a week, experiencing for the first time the full reality of Bob's passing. I'm missing him so much and the joy of sharing our lives together--just the very ordinary things that made our lives so rich--like conversation, eating together, reading and praying, going for walks, marvelling at the goodness of the Lord to us, dreaming about the future, and of course sharing the same bed. It's so true that God made us to have relationships and I'm so grateful for good friends and family who check in with me and remind me daily of their commitment to be present in my life.

I'm flying to Regina on Tuesday for a week and it will be SO good to be with our precious kids and grandkids. When I return, Bob's two sisters Vi and Lois are joining me for a three-day "Special Sisters" time in Victoria!! And later in June I plan to visit our kids in western NY and some good friends and cousins in ON. So my times alone at home will be nicely spaced with time away with family. I feel so very blessed!!