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
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
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
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
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
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