This is Something My Brothers Would've Done...

A 6 year old and a 4 year old are upstairs in their bedroom.
'You know what?' says the 6 year old. 'I think it's about time we started cussing.

The 4 year old nods his head in approval.

The 6 year old continues, 'When we go downstairs for breakfast, I'm gonna say something with hell and you say something with ass..'

The 4 year old agrees with enthusiasm.

When the mother walks into the kitchen and asks the 6 year old what he wants for breakfast, he replies, 'Aw, hell, Mom, I guess I'll have some Cheerios.'

WHACK! He flies out of his chair, tumbles across the kitchen floor, gets up, and runs upstairs crying his eyes out, with his mother in hot pursuit, slapping his rear with every step. His mom locks him in his room and shouts, 'You can stay there until I let you out!'

She then comes back downstairs, looks at the 4 year old and asks with a stern voice, 'And what do YOU want for breakfast, young man?'

'I don't know,' he blubbers, 'but you can bet your fat ass it won't be Cheerios!'

Family

This is How Mothers Get Grey Hair

Weekend at The Cottage

Last weekend we headed up to our place in the Cariboo for the weekend. Maggie was beyond thrilled as we stopped at her favorite park along the way so she could chase a hundred balls in the mud before climbing back in the truck.

We had been up earlier in the year and taken down a fair amount of trees. Because of the pine beetle most of our trees will have to come down changing the whole look of the place.

Instead of a cottage nestled in the woods with trees lining the perimeter it's now starting to look like a naked piece of land. Hard to imagine what those little critters have done to devastate our land.

I walked around the back of the property and took pics of the outbuildings. Rustic, you think? They will all come down probably next year.

We got a lot of work done, Maggie had a wonderful time chasing balls and getting her back scratched by Grandma. We woke up with sore backs and looked outside to see snow falling. Yikes!

Strength for Today

Happiness keeps you sweet,
Trials keep you strong,
Sorrows keep you human,
Failures keep you humble,
Success keeps you glowing,
But only God keeps you going!

5 Years and I Still Miss Him

I can't believe it's been 5 years. I still miss him. I can't see a flagger with a bright orange vest without thinking of a little man with a big attitude with an even bigger love for God and family and friends.

Kit gave me the courage to 'live life on life's terms' and to be all that God intended for me to be and to never be defeated the words and actions of others.

Here's lookin' at you Kit,

Your bud.

In Remembrance

We're off to the cottage this weekend, I haven't been up there much this year at all so I'm looking forward to seeing 'our place' and closing it up for the winter. We have a lot of work to do cleaning up the yard with all the trees and debris taken down last summer so that should keep us busy for the weekend.

Maggie of course is excited that she's going to her special place where she can run and be free and chase balls until somebody's mother's arms drop off, not mentioning any names here.

There was so much hoopla this week because of the US elections, I'll just say this one little bitty thing...that Obama is something. What a charasmatic speaker. Wow. As exciting as it was to see him get elected it was every bit as disappointing to see Prop 8 voted on in California. Rights and freedoms of Americans stripped from them. Very sad.

So..........off we go. REMEMBER to love the one you're with and never take it for granted. Tell them you love them. Remember the people who died for our country. Remember the people who continue to fight for the rights and freedom of all people.

In Memory of Bernice Gerard

Last night I heard the news that our beloved Bernice had passed away into the arms of Jesus. Bernice was a Pastor/Teacher/Evangelist/Radio Moderator/Television Host/Crusader for the Unborn/Friend of Israel/and a whole host of other titles. She had served on Vancouver city council as well as pastoring a large Pentecostal church at the same time.

I got to know Bernice when I was about 8 years old and even at that age she had a profound influence on my life. I used to line up my stuffed animals on my bed and 'preach' to them using Bernice's method of pacing back and forth and holding up a Bible at the same time. I believe my Scripture came from Romans. I don't know, I'd have to check my notes.

After I graduated from Bible College I went to live in Vancouver and attended the church that Bernice and her co-worker Velma pastored for many many years. I joined the staff a year later and worked alongside them until they resigned the church to focus on their TV and Radio ministries along with their work with children around the world.

Bernice was someone to be reckoned with. She didn't back away from anybody. She was tough, lacking somewhat in social skills but always fighting for the underdog. She had come from a poor foster family and grown up 'in the system' and never looked back. Once she got 'converted in the country' it became her life force to tell the world of the good news of Jesus Christ.

There are many stories to be told about her, many, many lives influenced by her, she was an amazing woman. She was a pioneer in leading women to join the ministry, believing that it is God who ordains those to preach, not man.

Her co-worker Velma Chapman passed away last year at 92 and they had worked together as partners in ministry for over 60 years. Amazing.

Well done Bernice, well done. You're at home now. Safe in the arms of Jesus.

Dear All:

My cousin's cat had kittens and she was able to give away all but 4 of them.

I told her I would help her find homes for the last 4.

We can't take one because we already have 2 cats, but if you could take just one it would be such a help and the kittens could have a nice home.

Since she lives by the Nuclear Power Plant, I'll go pick them up for you.

I've attached pictures of the last 4 kittens.

Will you help?

Thanks

It's That Time of Year Again

Not really excited about having to drive all night long with firecrackers being thrown on the street and irresponsible people thinking it's funny but here we are again.


Hallowe'en should be a fun night for kids to go trick or treating and do it safely. I'm not sure that's the case any more.


I like the idea that a lot of churches have in making it a Hallelujah party or Harvest Fun Fair, sounds a lot more safe and sane to me. I'm all about safety and sanity on any given day.

Happy Hallowe'en!

Picture taking time at Harrison Hot Springs

One of our favorite places to go for a quick getaway is Harrison Hot Springs. It's a small resort town nestled in amongst the mountains and lake and is picturesque attracting visitors from all over the world.



When you walk down the streets you can hear any number of languages being spoken. There is only one major street with shops on one side and the lake and promenade on the other.



The Resort is first class and has a number of therapeutic pools with the hot springs from the mountain being poured into smaller pools of various sizes and temperatures.



We love to go and eat at our fave restaurant where not only do you get good food you get great service and also the best black forest cake around.



Harrison Hot Springs is somewhere that holds a lot of fond family memories for me. This photo was taken when I was still little enough to ride on my dad's shoulders and view the world from the top of 'the big rock' and think I was on top of the world.

It's been a little busy around here with appointments to the Dr., Dentist, Massage Therapist (ahh, how I love her), Mother's stuff, Union stuff, Family stuff...it all adds up.

BB and I went to see Paul on Saturday. He was happy to see us and we enjoyed a nice lunch together. He's a dear man and a wonderful step-dad. He was a bit mixed up as to where we all live but that's nothing new. He continues to be the warm-hearted, kind man that he's always been. Always concerned about everyone else.

Work is in a state of change right now with new ownership and therefore new union contract which has to be bargained for after we decide which union will represent us the best. I try to stay informed reading the Union literature and not listening to the lunchroom banter. Hopefully we'll all be winners in the end.

BB is looking to go to assisted living so we're working on that arrangement for her. Trouble is she's so healthy that on application requests it doesn't appear that she needs anything from anybody, thank you very much. However with her failing eyesight she does require more care so we're looking at that. It all takes a lot of time.

Chris is busy with school and figuring out big words and new concepts and her common phrase is 'hmmm, I've never looked at it that way before'.

Church is good and again in a state of change as the 'filler-in pastors' leave the end of this year and the new pastor begins in January. But for us, right here, right now, it's good. There are really nice people going there and they have welcomed us more than we could've ever imagined.

Soooooooooo life is good and all is well.

I've been thinking long and hard about a subject close to my heart. This post could be called "Coming out of the Closet" or "You always wondered, here's the answer" or "Be still my beating gay heart" or something along those lines. No matter what it's called the content is the same.
I've 'borrowed' some ideas from a blogger friend that I admire and respect for her writings and opinions and they've given me the platform I need to write my own thoughts.

So...........away we go! Hang on to your hats!

Some common misconceptions I'd like to clear up:

1. I made a choice to be gay.

Here's a question to my straight friends - when did you make a choice to be straight? I don't believe anyone ever chooses to be the sexual being that they are born to be. What God created me to be, that's what I am. I could live the rest of my life without intimacy with a man and never miss it but to not have the affection of another woman, that I cannot do without. I didn’t choose my orientation, I choose how I live my life.

2. All gay people were sexually abused.

Gay people are sexually abused the same way straight people are abused. Abuse is abuse and really has little to do with your sexual orientation.

3. Gay people recruit children.

No, pedophiles go after children. I am gay, not a pedophile.

4. Lesbians hate men.

I don’t hate men. I had a great dad and I had a great brother. Just because I don’t want to sleep with men doesn’t mean I hate them. I don’t want to sleep with my female friends either, but I like them just fine. I recognize that some lesbians do have a hate-on for men but I'm not one of them.

5. All gay people are promiscuous.

That is like saying all heterosexuals are monogamous. Are there gay sluts? Sure, but there are also straight sluts too. The majority of people I know (gay or straight) are in or looking for that special life-long partnership.

6. Gay Christians do not exist.

I am here and there are lots more gay Christians out there. We exist. I’m sorry if there are people out there who feel they have the right to judge my relationship with God. I try to not judge anyone else and I would hope that people would show me the same respect.

7. Gay people are a threat to society and marriage.

Not really. My relationship is one like a marriage. Together we work, we pay taxes, We're law abiding citizens. We give back to our community. We're church attenders. We really lead a quiet boring life, we have a peaceful home. We're stable, hard-working individuals who believe we should have the same rights as everyone else. Your marriage is no weaker or stronger if I am allowed to marry. Your marriage is between you and your spouse, I have nothing to do with it. My morals and values depend on me. Your values are totally dependent on you.

8. If gay marriages are allowed then people will want to marry their computer or their dog.

This is hardly worth the time of an answer but........ok, show me a computer or animal that can read, understand, and sign a LEGAL document, then that argument will hold weight for me. Until then, marriage is between two consenting, ADULT people.

9. Gay people are weird.

Where I live there are lots of weird people. But I am no weirder than my next door neighbor. Everyone is different and everyone has their place.

10. There is a gay lifestyle.

My lifestyle includes wanting to live my life following Jesus, to be a good person and wanting to love my partner with everything I am. Sounds pretty normal to me.

And that was all she wrote.

A Little Bored?

I'm Just a Freak'n Ray of Sunshine Today

I'm having a mental health day today. Nothing more. Nothing less. Some days are just like that. Doesn't mean I'll feel like this tomorrow. Doesn't mean I won't. It's just one of those days when I would rather tell the world to p**s off than be nice. I can blame it on lots of things but I won't. Suffice to say. Tomorrow's another day and I'm hoping my usual sunny disposition will return.

So many things come to mind for which I am thankful...................(not in any particular order).

The freedom of living in a country where I can be who I am and love the one I'm with.

Gratefulness to God for God-fearing parents who raised me to 'love God and love each other' and meant it.

Thankfulness for a job in healthcare/transportation that I enjoy, that brings satisfaction to my life.

Pleasant exchanges at the back of our church with people who care about us and show us Christ's love by example.

Good friends near and far, new and old not in age but in the years we've been friends.

A nice home to share with ones I love....including the neurotic dog and crazy cats.

A beautiful sunny day in October warm enough to walk around without a jacket.

Memories of times spent in Hawaii and photos to accompany those memories.

Photo albums I've scrapbooked because it's fun.


Food in my cupboard and in my fridge.

The ability to buy food and not do without because I have no money but because I just haven't been to the store.

All glory to our God and King!

Here's a Chuckle for You...........

Two young boys walked into a pharmacy one day, picked out a box of tampons and proceeded to the checkout counter.

The man at the counter asked the older boy, 'Son, how old are you?' 'Eight', the boy replied.

The man continued, 'Do you know what these are used for?'

The boy replied, 'Not exactly, but they aren't for me. They're for him. He's my brother. He's four. We saw on TV that if you use these, you would be able to swim and ride a bike.'

All good in the hood

This is what I feel like most of the time...I'm not sure when old age crept up on me...when DID THAT HAPPEN??? Anyways...........here I am on the other side of 50. I used to be a 'techie' kinda person, the one who came over to people's houses and hooked up their VCR's because they didn't have a clue, the one that explained the answering machine to her mother, who taught her how to use an ATM. Where did that person go?

So here I am....this morning I had fun hanging out with some of the peeps from Church. They are a fun bunch! Lots of laughs and getting to know a few people a little better. I'm really liking these peeps. They're not all wound up about 'stuff'. They like us. They really do!

My shift has changed so I'm picking up different people on my run and I'm liking that. No more pothold man, can you say Amen to that? Amen!

Our contract ends the end of the year with our current employer so there are changes ahead. We've been taken over by an American company who specialize in transportation so we're hoping for good things.

Things are good around the house. Chris is busy with her Theology course and being challenged with that so that's good for her. She needs to be challenged. I don't. I get intimidated by challenge.

BB is keeping herself busy with her many church groups she attends. She seems to go to church on every other day of the week besides Sunday. We need to take a trip to the island to see Paul soon as we haven't been for awhile. He doesn't seem to realize that sometimes though. He calls my mom and tells her how nice it was that she came and spent the day with him. A lot cheaper for sure!

Peace out cub scout...............laters

Friday's Funny

A woman was sitting at a bar enjoying an after work cocktail with her girlfriends when Steven a tall, exceptionally handsome, extremely sexy, middle-aged manentered. He was so striking that the woman could not take her eyes off him.

The young-at-heart man noticed her overly attentive stare and walked directly toward her. (As All men will.) Before she could offer her apologies for staring so rudely, he leaned over and whispered to her, 'I'll do anything, absolutely anything, that you want me to do, no matter how kinky, for $20.00...... On one condition'

Flabbergasted, the woman asked what the condition was. The man replied, 'You have to tell me what you want me to do in just three words.'

The woman considered his proposition for a moment, and then slowly removed a $20 bill from her purse, which she pressed into the man's hand along with her address. She looked deeply into his eyes, and slowly and meaningfully said....

"Clean my house."