Wednesday, August 18, 2010

August 18, David's Birthday

Happy Birthday Son!
Goodness how those 46 years have flown by with the experiences of life being both happy and sad. The years flow by fast but some days can move-ever-so-slowly. The third bloosoming of my rose bush was such a pleasant surprise but it wasn't but a couple of days after bloossoming that some of the once deep-green leaves began turning yellowish-brown. Upon closer inspection I could see just a hint of a gossomer web forming and pin-head size bugs making their way up the rose stems smothering the green leaves. Those plump rose-colored bloosoms were beginning to fade and die. My little rose bush had fulfilled the measure of its creation, sharing its beauty and bringing joy into our lives. Memories, faces, happenings, places. We have a basket full of these to recall and delight in. And so I close this chapter of my life with a move back to familiar faces and places. To experience again that Southern Alberta west wind, brilliant sunshine and a blue sky that you can see from eternity to eternity. Where waves the golden brown wheat, barley, flax, oats, yellow mustard and kanola crops. Black angus, herford, charlet and texas long horn graze beside the quarter horse, mustang and anglo arab. This is cattle country, the rolling hills beckon an afternoon horse back ride and in the fields at harvest time working long into the night hours are the headlights of an army of Hutterite combines, gleaning the summer crops. Horsemen and horsewomen showing their skill at rodeoing. Did I mention gophers? Well there are plenty of those little rodents. One Ontario ground hog could surely make short work of our skinny gopher. Wonder what else could make short work of the hundereds of them in the fields and right outside our kitchen window, peering in at us as we observe them. See you in Alberta! Elaine

Monday, August 9, 2010

August 9, 2010, summer in Toronto

Hot and humid with the occassional rain drops. We did have a fierce down pour a couple of weeks ago and then as suddenly as the rains came - they went away.

Several months ago, from the corner convenience store, I purchased a small rose bush in about an 8" pot The blossoms were pink and tiny and delicate. They were in blossom for about a week then sadly the old blossoms had to be removed. I faithfully watered and gave plant food to my little rose bush. Not long after the first blossoming we noticed tiny buds forming again on the little bush. What a thrill. I didn't believe there would be more than one blooming and because the greenery was so welcome I just kept watering and feeding it. The second blooms finally faded and had to be taken off the stems. I cut the tall stems back a bit and continued the watering, feeding and turning the plant on the living room window ledge. To my surprise - we have a third booming from this timy rose bush. Seven little bloosoms. What a delight!

Now a little parable, how similar this little rose bush is to the gospel in our lives. In about 1913 in Chemnitz Germany, Aloysia Gehmlich rented a bedroom in her home to two Mormon missionaries. They taught her the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and from that one lady her family now has carried the gospel from Montreal Quebec to Texas in the East and to Utah and Alberta in the West and many cities inbetween. And like the little green plant, whose blossoms return to gladen the heart and please the eye, the gospel of Jesus Christ begins as a tiny seed of faith, a desire to know the truth and with careful feeding and learning from the scriptures, from prayer and from the every day goodness of God, we too grow to become beautiful children of our Father in Heaven - with the potential to reach hights we never thought possible. We have within each of us the divine light of Christ that enhances our every experience and whispers gratitude for the goodness all around us.

Many years ago my grandparents crossed the dry and barren plains from Ohio to Utah to follow their desire for religious freedom - to join with the saints in the Salt Lake Valley. Later they eachmigrated to Southern Alberta - Grandparents Jack and Vie Bridge and Grandparents Charles and June Harker. Great Grampa Pierce Fisher was called on a mission to help settle Southern Alberta in Hillspring. When he was ask why he never returned to Utah, his response was, "I was never released from my mission to Canada." From small beginnings the gospel - Good News is taken to every corner of the globe.

These past 7 months Elder Gehmlich and myself have felt it a priviledge to wear the badge of "Missionary" for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I bow to those many young men and women who give two years of their lives in the service of their God and being in His service blessing the lives of those who will listen to the message of Christ's mission and His plan for Happiness. The purpose of each of our lives, to find lasting joy and happiness.
Bye for this week. Elaine

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Sunday August 1, 2010 Etobicoke

A week ago we were invited to Welland to the home of Laraine and Ben, the mother of Chris Dugan who is the son-in-law of Elder Gehmlich. Ben toured us a bit around Welland and out to Lock #7 of the Welland Canal. Just as we, along with about 35 other tourists, were climbing the steps to view the lock, a freighter came into the locks. It was so much more meaningful to be there and watch the water being pumped in from the sides of the lock in order to raise the freight up to the next level of water passage through the canal. We attended the Saturday morning farmers market - what an abundance of veggies and fruits from the farmers fields. We, or no, I, of course, purchased strawberries, apricots, peaches and corn on the cob. Delicious! We drove to Niagra Falls where Ben, Laraine and Elder Gehmlich attended a concert. The music was way to loud for me and not my taste so I sat in the mall and watched people walk back and forth, there were three wedding parties there to take photos, quite a contrast to the beauty and sanctity of the temple in Oakland in July when I went to my granddaughter Marie's wedding.

No company this week and actually a pretty quiet week. On Saturday we met with the Murphy's who drove us to a park on Lake Ontario where we walked a bit, had lunch then drove a way to where there was a Muslum market. It was not very big but Denise and I both bought lovely scarfs. In the evening we attended the baptism of a mother and her daughter from Nigeria. Her husband is a member of the church who joined in Toronto many years ago, he worked here then went back to Nigeria to bring his family here. They are a lovely family and so happy to be here and to be members of The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

This morning in relief society the lesson was on temple work for our ancestors. I really must get going on finding my ancestors. I have an appointment in a week to meet with the genealogist in our ward - she will help point me in the right direction for research. We have a career workshop scheduled for this tuesday and have 8 job seekers registered. I hope they all show up. It is fast sunday today and there were some inspiring testimonies borne. Time now for supper preparation. Toronto is beautiful and green with so many wild flowers in the boulevards.
Bye for now. Elaine

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

July 27, 2010

My walk this evening had me flanked on both sides of the sidewalk with white Queen Anne's Lace and Yellow Buffalo Bean flowers. The Canadian thistle that reached well past my eye level on the mounds of dirt just beyond the sidewalk made the walk along Humberwood Blvd. quite a magical place to be. All the thistle is in seed and the floating puffs are everywhere. It took me 30 minutes over the freeway and into Malton, a neighbourhood that is mostly "Little India" formerly settled by the Italians but mostly abandoned by them for greener pastures and now been taken over by the emmigrants from India and Pakistan. I had letters to mail and some candy to take to Jackie O'Toole. We visited for about 15 minutes then I walked home as the round red sun set in the west. There were many walkers, families, couples and loners. A great evening for a walk!

Friday, July 16, 2010

July 17 Toronto

Years ago, about 40 years ago when we moved to Victoria British Columbia from Edmonton, Alberta I felt like Victoria was truly my city. I knew my way around it, quaint, slow paced and easy to get from one end of the city to the other. As the years passed and progress caught up with the rather slow pace, the face of "my city" changed. The familiar little shops and neighbourhoods had been replaced by big box stores, faster and more cars and an influx of varried cultures.
I always felt that I was a part of Canada, and Canada was a big part of me. Somehow the "old familiar" is no longer there. I am surrounded by languages that I do not understand, instead of neighbourhoods of white canadians we are encompassed in neighbourhoods of dark skinned people. Johnny come lately who know their way around the politics much better than I do. Many are soft spoken and try to blend into their 'new country' but more and more evident to me - I am the outsider, the minority - looking in on Canada.

Our voice from the west of Canada is barely audible against the multitude of emmigrant voices who demand and expect the bounty of Canada to be handed to them. I am second generation Canadian with a heritage of four grandparents, uncles, aunts and parents who worked tirelessly to build and strengthen this country of ours. I hope that will be the code of our new Canadians.

Wonderful priviledge to go to the Oakland, California temple to attend the wedding of my granddaughter, Marie Fisher to Daniel Marquis. Kathryn, Gabriella and Lily Parker, joined us at David's home for the event. The young bride and groom were so happy and so beautiful. They were married for time and eternity in one of the Holy Temples of the Lord. What a promising way to begin life together.

Another special two days for us was to attend the Hill Cumorah Pagent at Palmyra, New York where over 800 actors and actresses enacted stories of the Nephites, Lamanites and the visit of Jesus Christ, after his resurrection, to the American continent, accounts taken from recorded history in the Book of Mormon. We walked through the sacred grove where God the Eternal Father and Jesus Christ appeared to the boy Joseph Smith - in answer to his prayer as to which church he should join. We walked past the apple orchard, the barn and the copper shed on the Smith farm, also toured replicas of the log house and the frame house that was their home in Palmyra, New York.
The B&B where we stayed was just up the street from where there was a church on every corner. Large brick and limestone buildings. We drove to the temple in Palmyra and toured the visitors centre at the pagent. Palmyra is home to many many large and stately homes with wide and long green green grass lawns and huge trees - similar to a southern plantation home I would suspect.

Toronto is very close to many points of interest and many historical events. It is a busy busy city with great diversification. This week the news is all about a popular car race. On goes the beat! Elaine

Monday, July 5, 2010

July 5th, Heathers Birthday!!

Time flies when we keep busy. So much has been going on here right in our neighbourhood. Two weeks ago we drove to Oshawa - about 60 minutes east of where we live, where we conducted a seven hour career workshop for eight single adults. They were a great group and we had a good time. That was Saturday - on Sunday we left mid morning to drive to London to be there for sacrament meeting at 11:30 and afterwards a presentation to two wards combined relief society and priesthood meetings where we outlined the services available to the job seekers through the career workshop. This was a full pleasant day.

This has been a week of television keeping us informed of the G 20 and G 8 meetings here, with protests and riot police, hot on the heels of the conclusion of those meetings ws the visit from the Queen of England. Sunday was the famous Queens Plate Horse Race at the Woodbine Race track - which is one block away and just across the street from our condo. Sunday afternoon we watched as literally hundreds of cars streemed into the race track parking lot and onto the grass. We attended a baptism at 5:00 and then our temple preparation class at 7:00. Another full day.

The bad news of the week -happened at a community centre right next the community garden where our friend Jackie O'Toole has a plot and Saturday there were a group of boys playing basketball at the community centre when there was a fight over the basketball. One boy pulled a gun and shot another boy in the head. Wow. now that is a little unsettling.

Tomorrow is our July Career Workshop at the Employment Resource Centre where we will give two full days of instruction. Bye for now. God Bless! Elaine

Monday, June 21, 2010

June 21, First official day of Summer

While the Canadians in western Canada are slogging through terrintial rain, flooded basements. swoolen rivers and creeks, farmers worrying about not getting the crops into the ground because of mud, we here in Toronto are in the midst of heat and humidity. I love the warm evenings - it so reminds me of being in Hawaii, Palm Springs or Mexico, and here it is in my own back yard - well - my rented back yard, so to speak. Kathryn and Sophie arrived late Tuesday night via West Jet. What a welcome sight for my eyes - not to mention what it did to my heart. We took a leave of absence from our employment resource duties and was able to do some shopping with the 'girls'. Thursday was the day the westherman predicted sunshine so we took advantage of it, packed a lunch and drove to Niagra Falls. Elder Gehmlich had been there before but it was the first time for Kate and myself so we didn't know what to expect. It was beautiful! The mists from the falls shoot into the air way above the Niagra River on the flat. There are several ferry boats that take tourists close to the falls here the boats circle and sway and idle their motors so that the spray from the falls can engulf those in the ferry boats. Something like being sprayed by a killer whale at the aquariam. Needless-to-say, we watched from the top of the falls on the Canadian side.
This year is the 50 anniversary of the Toronto Stake Centre and there are a series of activities that have been planned for this year. One such was an organ/harp, violin, flute and piano recital both at the Etobicoke Stake Centre on friday evening and at the Toronto stake Centre on saturday evening. I must interject here, that Friday afternoon we went shopping for the Parker granddaughters ( I might add, that I have discovered a wonderful store that manufacture the most darling party dresses and boys 3 piece suits, white shirt and tie - for a very nominal charge) and Sophie picked out a poofy pink dress with bead work all down the front - similar to a brides' dress. Pink sandals with rhinestones and she was set to woo and wow all those who saw her at the concert Friday evening. She was every bit the little princess. But, backing up even a little before the dress shoping, we went to the Lyndt factory story. What a treat for the eyes. The store is all decorated with wrapped chocolates in soft pastel colors - floor to almost ceiling. Well - when we walked into the store and Sophie's eyes rested on the truffle-filled case, she pointed to the candy and said "OH MY GOOOODNESSS". We were all taken aback as she went around the room saying "OH MY GOOODNESS"! The clerks giggled and we all felt to say the same. Oh My Goodness.! What a beautiful store and Oh so Sweet.!

We did go back to the resource centre to check for messages and answer emails. So we weren't totally delinquent. Saturday we took advantage of our swimming pool in our condo, and all to soon the Parkers were walking away from us to board the Wet Jet back to Calgary.

Elder Gehmliches' son Troy will be here Wednesday for some work-related-training. We will drive to Richmond Hill to have supper and a visit with him. Thursday we will have our first run at missionary apartment inspection. This we have been asked to do every 6 weeks.

Every other monday morning we have a conference call from Detroit with all the area Employment Resource people where Brother Mallory addresses our computer questions.
I had mentioned that we spoke to the YSA ( Young Single Adults), from the Oshawa Ward several weeks ago. Saturday we will be conducting a Career Workshop there for the 12 that are registered. to take the course.

Sunday we drive to London to a combined London 1st, 2nd and 3rd wards (2 hours west) to speak to joint relief society and priesthood meetings, to promote the career workshop and inform the saints there about the resources that are available for the job seekers.
We will teach our career workshop July 6 & 7 at our office in Etobicoke. The news here is full of the activities surrounding the upcoming G meetings with world leaders. The protesters have begun to gather and are pretty vocal. The police are very visiable around the Toronto Downtown core and barracades are up all over the area. Storefronts are being boarded up. Can you believe this is Free Canada?

The signs of the times as foretold by the prophets of God. Evil will escalate - but there will always be more good than evil. We feel safe enough and use wisdom in where we go and when. There is much to see and do in Toronto . Many beautifully dressed Punjaby women in their colorful outfits. The men wear a brightly colored turban and a white, very long shirt with matching white pants. There is one old fellow who often sits at the bus stop along the sidewalk where I pass on my way to work. The strange thing about him is that he sits there with one shoe off and his bare foot crossed over his knee. He wears a bright orange turban and has a long grey beard. I think maybe sometimes that I am in India. It is late and we missionaries are supposed to be in bed at a goodly hour so I will say bye for now. elaine Love you Mom