Snow and Shine

Yesterday blizzarding snow and power outages, today brilliant sunshine. I wonder if the farmers got all the moisture they needed from that huge dump of snow?

Spring weather in Calgary is so unpredictable, it's almost predictable. Pick a type of weather and you're sure to be 100% right sooner or later.

I do love it here, and I'm glad I live where I do. Life is good.

Lovely

Spent a wonderful evening with good friends and good food. It was Birthday club night at Karyn's home. The RS presidency make a gourmet dinner for all the ladies who's birthdays are that month.

Right now, my angels down the hall are singing softly and sweetly.

Such a lovely end to such a snowy wintry spring day.

Designing

Spent the afternoon immersed in designing a large and beautiful custom home. I can lose track of time when I'm designing, it certainly makes the day go faster.

It's like putting a puzzle together. All the pieces form a beautiful picture, but they have to fit just right.

I need to always remember how much I love to design and how it feeds my soul. Creativity is soul food.

VTs & HTs

Had my visiting teachers and my home teachers come by this evening. I really like both programs and am glad that I have them in my life.

People caring about people. It makes the world just a little bit nicer place to live. I'm so glad that I live right here, right now.

Keys

This morning I couldn't find my keys. Like really couldn't find them. I never lose my keys. Finally I called my daughter who reminded me that I had given them to my son last night to unlock the door as we all returned from our family photo session. "oh yeah". It took me about an hour to track him down as I didn't even have his work number. Sure enough he had them in his coat pocket. Then he asked me the obvious question: "Don't you have a spare key to your car???"  "oh yeah"

Why didn't I think of that?

I guess that's why you give birth to children. So they can take care of you in your old age. Sheesh.

I love having children, even adult children who take my keys home with them. I'm thankful to have my kids living here in the same city. I'm thankful that we are so close and love each other. Families. I'm so glad I have my own. Hopefully they will choose a nice home for me to live in when I've lost all my marbles!

Finally Getting It

I spoke in Church today. My talk was on the topic of repentance. Repentance is something I never really understood clearly until I was in my forties. I thought that repentance was something that was painful and hard to do. I didn't understand that repentance is a gift from God, a blessing to help us feel happier and better, a way to overcome our shame and embarrassment of the mistakes we always make.

There is no down side to repentance,  only good things come from it. It helps us reach higher and do better and become the kind of person we'd really like to be. I have come to a point in my life where I am thankful for the blessings of repentance.

Happy Birthday to Me

Today is my birthday. I'm one of those people who makes a big deal about people's birthdays. I always baked and decorated crazy and imaginative cakes for my kids. I love to honour my loved ones on their birthdays. I think everyone should get a special day to celebrate the day they arrived here on earth.

I spent the day exactly how I pleased. In the morning I attended Women's Conference and sat beside my dear friend Dawn. The luncheon was delicious, it's always great to get a good home cooked meal. Thick chowder, spinach/strawberry salad, homemade buns. mmMMmmMMmm.

In the afternoon I had an hour long massage and then an hour long pedicure. - French, you know. I wrapped up the evening with my daughter. We ate pizza at Mitillini's and then saw a movie The Last Song. A bit of a tear jerker, and definitely not my style - teen romance. But it was fun to be with my daughter and we had some good laughs at the expense of the movie.

I have received many salutations from my friends and family, they make me feel special and remembered. Tomorrow my family will come over to celebrate the big day. We are going to have a family portrait done. I want to remember this day with a picture of how we all looked. I even want my dogs in it. It's supposed to be taken outside, but it's snowing like crazy out there right now. I guess we will all bundle up.

Mountain Girl

I took this picture today in the Kananaskis outside of a home that I designed last year and is now under construction. 

The views of the snow covered mountains today were spectacular. It was a beautiful day to drive into the mountains. At the lower elevations the deciduous trees were just barely leafing out. They looked like they had a green mist just settling on their bare branches. Up higher, there was about 4 inches of freshly fallen snow that glistened in the brilliant spring sunshine. 

I don't know what it is about mountains but they are part of me, a part that greets me like a long lost friend whenever I take the time to visit them. I feel joy just looking at their splendid majesty.

Answered Prayers

I received Gerber daisies and a birthday card from the sister missionaries, thanking me for letting them stay in my home and telling me that I was an answer to their prayers.

That really humbled me and made me all teary eyed. You don't very often get to be an instrument in God's hands to answer someone's prayers.

When I was asked to have them stay with me for two months my instant answer was yes. I live in this beautiful home all by myself and I wanted to be like my friend Brenda who also lives in a beautiful home with a spare bedroom. She said that she consecrated her home to whoever needed a place to stay. Even I stayed with her for an entire month when I was in need.

They are beautiful young women and it is a total honour and privilege to have them in my home, I feel so blessed to have them here. They add to the serenity and peace of my home.

I guess, in reality, they also are an answer to my prayer that I be an instrument in God's hands for His good.

Bats

One of my clients introduced me to the world of bats last summer when I visited their site out in the Cranbrook area. I unlearned a bunch of wrong information such as bats are not blind, they are not flying mice, and they won't get tangled into your hair. Today they gave me a book all about bats with the inscription:

Thanks for all the help you've given us as we work on building our "bat house"!

 What is it with books this month? In my 10 years in this job I have never been given books as thank you gifts and this is the second one this month!

On top of that, with my new found knowledge, I encouraged some friends who live by a slough to set up a bat house to attract bats to eat all the mosquitoes.  Here is the picture they sent me yesterday.  Apparently they have named this lovely edifice after me! Oh the honour!

Life is so much fun!

Mayflower

Today suddenly my Mayflower tree burst into full leaf. Every leaf has the beginnings of the blossoms that will bloom in a couple of weeks filling my backyard with the most heavenly perfume.

I am so blessed to have an established yard with mature trees!

I puttered around my yard getting out all my chairs and moving flower pots and setting up my deck for summer. I love the warmth of the sun, my spirits were so high today, it was a lovely day.

Firsts

Life is good. I took my dogs for a walk to the park and watched my grandson play his very first soccer game ever. He was so adorable in his little soccer uniform,shin pads and cleats. I thought his father was going to burst, he was so excited watching his son playing.

It's the circle of life, not so long ago I was standing on the sidelines watching my own kids play soccer.  I can never decide whether time is flying by or standing still.

Beautiful spring weather today. I saw a purple crocus blooming in my neighbour's garden. It's the little things in life that make every day a jewel.

Blowing Kisses

I was surrounded by my family all evening as we celebrated my daughter's birthday. I have been blessed with such good people in my life. Tonight's touching moment was when my granddaughter Julianna was saying goodbye. She must hug and kiss everyone.  As she walked down the sidewalk to their car she kept turning and blowing me kisses.

She spreads so much love and joy in my heart.

Birds in my Tree

Last night I opened my bedroom window before I went to sleep. I love sleeping with the window open but up until now it's been too chilly at night. This morning about 5am I was awakened by birds singing in the tree outside my window. It's been a long time since I've heard those pretty notes.

It feels like spring might really be here if the birds are singing!

Birds singing in my tree brings a smile to my face.

Women for Women

The worst thing you can do is nothing!

I heard this statement at lunch today and it struck me profoundly. I was listening to Janice Eisenhauer give a presentation on Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan to a bunch of Rotarians. I was a guest along with Iris and Carol, invited by Carolyn Christensen, Iris's management partner at Remax.

Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan is an organization Eisenhauer started in 1996 to help women and children in Afghanistan obtain education and human rights. It sounds like they are doing exactly what Greg Mortensen of "Stones into Schools" is doing, only Canadianized.

I felt uplifted and enriched listening to the successes they've had in helping so many women.

I know I attended this luncheon for a reason, it has a bigger purpose in my life than just feeding my belly. I can just feel it in my belly. Now to figure it all out.

Check out their website: Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan

Good Hair Day

One should always be grateful for a good hair stylist. I've had mine for at least 15 years. I am blessed to have such a good relationship with her and to trust her with my curly hair. I always have a good hair day when she does my hair.

We truly are blessed by people who are talented and use their talents to help others get what they want. I want to look good and Anita does her best! Thank you Anita and all the people out there doing their jobs to the best of their ability. It's a great world when you think about it.

Clients to Friends

I received a lovely, HUGE, book from some happy clients today along with a heartfelt thank you inscribed on the inside cover. It's over 900 pages long and features over 5000 plants.

I've been working with them for four years and finally their home is going to begin construction next month.

I sure do meet wonderful people in my line of work and some of them become friends instead of just clients.

What a thoughtful gift for someone who loves to garden! I wonder how they knew?

Birthday Thoughts

Another sleepover with my grandkids last night and all day today. They are such interesting and entertaining little people.  I spent the day reflecting on the last 26 years and the circle of life, as today was their mother's birthday. We made her birthday cards and I think they understood the concept of her special day.

It's a special day for mothers too, to remember a lifetime of raising a child and having the happiness of seeing them successful in love and life and moving forward in a productive and meaningful life.

Happy Birthday Crystal.

Singing

I sang in the choir today. Music is always a beautiful thing in my life.

There was a quartet at church today that sang "Be Still and Know That He is God". It was so beautiful. I need to find that music to listen to for myself.

Tuned In

I am really learning to tune into joy. I feel it all the time. I think it's available round the clock, but maybe I get busy or forget, but every time I go looking for it, and even when I'm not looking, there it is, just waiting to be experienced.

I'm walking around with a silly grin on my face.

Joy is a gift from God. We just have to open ourselves up to it, to recognize it and then tap into it. I have felt joy even in the darkest moments of my life, when I've taken the time to pray and be still and know that God is.

On Cloud Nine

I had such an amazing day. I taught my first seminar out in the big world at the Log & Cottage Show. This has been a goal of mine for so many years and to finally achieve it has left me flying high on cloud nine.

There were technical difficulties: the mic squealed and filled the entire building with that horrible, ear piercing screech that leaves people twitching.  The organizers had to find another mic and half undress me to get it out from the back of my pants and up inside my jacket, all in the middle of my presentation in front of the audience.

But it was all cool. My training at Toastmasters has paid off and I was totally unfazed. And I get to do it all over again tomorrow!

So happy. So joyful.

Other gardens

...the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody.                  2 Nephi 8:3

When I read this verse this morning it caught at my heart and I thought about my garden from the nineties. The nineties is when I fell in love with gardening, well, flower gardening, not vegetables. I had a lovely garden of roses and irises and many colourful perennials. I found much joy and gladness in my garden. I have never had another garden like it. But someday I will.

....there will be other gardens...

....there will be other gardens...I truly believe this.

People of Paradise

People amaze me. I spent the evening at the annual general meeting of my community and then a couple of hours afterwards socializing with the board members. I am impressed by the people who volunteer to make our neighbourhood a better place to be. It's nice to be around others who are contributing to society.

I really enjoy my volunteer position as the community newsletter editor. It feels good to be offering my services and I feel like I'm making a positive difference. I like the people I work with on the newsletter, they are good people.

It's a great place to live: my own little piece of paradise.

Yoga

Went to my first ever yoga class this evening. OUCH. That was not the beautiful moment of my day! However, my friend Karyn took me to her club and was so kind and understanding when after about 10 minutes I pooped out. I watched for another 20 minutes and then she suggested we leave. I was happy to do so and thankful for her thoughtfulness. It's going to take a lot of work before yoga becomes a beautiful thing in my life. Luckily our friendship is a beautiful thing.

Joy School

Today I learned a new word: it's Joyologist.  A joyologist is someone who teaches other people how to have joy. They are obviously an expert in identifying joy and experiencing its every facet.

I have been a student of joyology (another new word today, I kid you not, I did not make up these words) for several months now.

I believe that joy is a gift from God and that it is available to anyone who seeks it. Like any of God's blessings, joy is given to those who understand what it is and recognize it and give thanks for it. Recognizing joyous moments leads to more joy. Being open to receiving joy and cherishing it and valuing it will only increase its abundance in your life.

I am enjoying living in joy.

Precious Jewels

It's been 48 hours since I last blogged. I missed last night, not because I didn't have something to write about, but the jewels of my life, my beautiful grandchildren spent the night with me. None of grandma's tricks could get them to go to sleep so finally at 10pm I gave up and turned out the light and went to sleep with them.

I spent 24 hours with these precious little ones, they are so sweet and happy. I am so blessed to have this time with them.

Opportunity Knocks

I am always open to listen to any opportunity that comes my way. Interestingly enough, this morning, the fellow I get to do all the flooring for my projects hooked me up with a window covering manufacturer and his factory rep. In the process, he offered me a deal to use his showroom and order any window coverings for my clients at his cost.

It seems to be out of the generosity of his heart as he won't make a dime off my business. He even offered to give me a key to his showroom. I asked him why, and he really didn't say why. I do send him some business, not a huge volume, but some. He is my exclusive flooring supplier and we have a friendly and respectful business relationship.

My assistant thinks there is a deal behind the scene that I don't know about, but I will take him at his word and feel very blessed for this contact which may open some interesting doors for me.

This is the second time this week that someone has offered to help me above and beyond their call of duty.
Wouldn't it be a beautiful world if we all treated each other this way?