|
Users viewing this topic:
none
|
|
Login  | |
|
RE: A life to cherish - 3/3/2009 7:22:58 PM
|
|
|
cherish405
Posts: 32136
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: The Land Down Under
Status: online
|
Hi everybody. Seems I didn't tell you what happened in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Joan's knees have caused her a number of problems over the years, and they really started giving her trouble on Sunday morning. She'd gone to the bathroom in the early hours fo the morning, and then couldn't get up or walk. John was trying to help her, and in the end, the only way she could get back to the bedroom was to scoot along the floor back to the bedroom. John woke me up to pray. In the end, I came to see what was going on. By that stage, it had taken her three hours to get back to the bedroom. She'd managed to get herself sitting at the end of the bed. I tried to help her onto the bed, but that didn't work. Then John and I tried together to get her back onto the bed. That didn't work. She was just short of being able to get there. In the end, we thought of a slightly shorter table that her dad had made many years ago. We put that in front of the bed. We managed to lift her onto the table. From there, we were able to get her sitting on the end of her bed. It took her a while, but she was able to get herself back into bed. It only took her 3.5 hours. She's been able to shuffle around a bit around the house using her walker, so that's an improvement, but she's still got a very long way to go. There was some talk of her going to hospital, but in the end, she didn't need to do that. For which we are mightily thankful.
Monday was a public holiday here in our state (Labour weekend). She couldn't get an appointment on Tuesday, but thankfully she has an appointment with her doctor this afternoon. She seriously needs to get those knees of hers checked out again. Her left knee was crackling like we've never heard it before, and her right knee was really painful. We've had to hire a wheelchair to get her around. Hopefully she'll heal again quickly.
_____________________________
From this time forth, with the powers vested in me, this post serves as public notice of the issuance of one unrevocable lisence to cherish405 to have special dispensation in the matter of drive-by huggings as she sees fit. ~rayofson~
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A life to cherish - 3/6/2009 7:31:49 PM
|
|
|
cherish405
Posts: 32136
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: The Land Down Under
Status: online
|
Joan finally went to the doctor. She has to get xrays done and an ultrasound/sonogram to see what's going on. There's also a possibility that she'll need to get a cortisone injection into her knee.
I don't know how much I've mentioned my birthday. This year I'm going to be 40. The invitations are all out. We have some friends in Wales that we always send invitations too. We don't expect that they'll necessarily get here, but it's still nice for them to get an invitation just the same. Well yesterday morning, I got a shock. The couple's daughter, her partner and their two kids have sent an answer back saying that they will be here. I don't know about her parents or brother. They haven't said anything, but it wouldn't surprise me if they came. Usually I'm the one in cahoots with the parents, and I know her daughter and family are coming, but have been told not to tell John and Joan that they're coming. It wouldn't surprise me if they are doing the opposite to me now.
It's going to be a busy day for them. They arrive at 3pm the afternoon of the dinner we're having. By the time the bus gets them to their hotel, they freshen up and get to the restaurant, it's going to be go, go, go for them. The dinner's at 6.30pm.
I'm really surprised that they're coming. She and her kids were here last May, and I didn't expect her to be able to come back so soon. It'll be a nice surprise. I must admit that I really didn't think they'd be able to make it. I'm not complaining that she is. It'll be great seeing her again and meeting her new partner.
Bailey won't mind the company either. The kids love playing ball with him, and anybody who plays ball with him becomes friends for life in his books.
My birthday is 4 weeks today. Hard to believe that. I was so horrified when I turned 30, thinking it was so old. Here I am, about to turn 40, and I don't feel the same way. I'm not dreading turning 40. My friends are glad that I decided to do something to celebrate. I initially wasn't going to, but friends were asking me to do something.
_____________________________
From this time forth, with the powers vested in me, this post serves as public notice of the issuance of one unrevocable lisence to cherish405 to have special dispensation in the matter of drive-by huggings as she sees fit. ~rayofson~
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A life to cherish - 3/9/2009 10:57:45 AM
|
|
|
cherish405
Posts: 32136
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: The Land Down Under
Status: online
|
Hi everybody. Sounds like the party is going to be even more exciting than originally thought. Remember when I told you that some friends of ours from Wales were coming over for my birthday? It seems the whole lot of them are coming. They'd told the parents that they had to tell me that their daughter, her partner and her kids were coming. That in my state of health, I wouldn't have been able to handle them all just showing up with no warning to me. I really appreciated that they did that. Then I got an email last night from the rest of the family telling me that they are all coming. I figured they would. Normally I'm the one keeping secrets from Joan about who's coming. It's going to be good to see them though.
Had a doctor's appointment today. The bus drivers were terrible! One basically swore at John when he paid his fare for the bus. Towards the end of the trip, we just about had an accident. The bus driver wasn't watching where he was going and just about slammed into the parked vehicle in front of us. I was facing the back of the bus. Everybody else was suddenly flying towards the front of the bus. John just about landed on me. My back slammed back in into the seat. Everybody else was just about out of their seats! A few seconds later, we heard the bus driver yelling, "Are you all alright?" I was the only one to answer yes I'll have to make sure I don't get any more pain in my neck and back. Don't need more health problem..
_____________________________
From this time forth, with the powers vested in me, this post serves as public notice of the issuance of one unrevocable lisence to cherish405 to have special dispensation in the matter of drive-by huggings as she sees fit. ~rayofson~
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A life to cherish - 3/14/2009 8:57:00 AM
|
|
|
cherish405
Posts: 32136
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: The Land Down Under
Status: online
|
Things have been quiet around our household again this week. I got paid on Wednesday, so we were able to get out and get some errands done. A friend loaned us her car for the day, which was really appreciated.
Unfortunately the outing was enough to knock me out again. I'm still recovering from the trip out.
This afternoon, one of our neighbours held an afternoon tea at their home. We have some new neighbours who have moved into a house across the road from us. John managed to go. Joan and I had every intention of going, but neither of us got there in the end.
Joan is back to not being able to walk very far again. In fact, she wouldn't have even been able to make it across the road to the afternoon tea. We're thinking that we gave the wheelchair that we hired back too soon. She had been walking better, but something has gone wrong again.
I'd planned on relaxing and just reading until it was time for me to go over the road for the afternoon tea. Honestly, they must think I'm trying to avoid them. I can never seem to get there when they have an afternoon tea on. I went to go and read, but I was so exhausted that I just ended up crashing on the couch! John woke me up to see if I was going, but I was in so much pain that I had to say no.
I'm not going as fast as I'd like to, but I'm about 3/4 of the way through my first scarf. I told one of the school chaplains at church that I have a heap of yarn left over from when I was going through a scarf making phase. They look like feather. They're really soft and really keep you warm. I've got all sorts of colours to work with. Some are variagated, so that gives a little interest to the colours. Some are just straight colours, like the dark pink one I'm working on at the moment. I wish I could knit faster. Sometimes I lack motivation. Sometimes my hands are too swollen to do any knitting. If I'm sitting down in front of the TV for any reason, I usually take out the knitting and try and do as much as I can. I'd really like to make as many scarves as I can for the kids, or whoever else is given the scarves.
I noticed in a craft magazine the other day that they are hoping people will knit squares that can be made into blankets for those who've been in the Victorian fires. If I weren't making the scarves, I'd try to do the squares. Strangely enough, I get bored knitting the squares as opposed to the scarves. I guess I see faster results from the scarves than I do the squares.
Three weeks today I'll be 40. I never thought I'd hear myself saying it, but I'm kind of looking forward to it.
_____________________________
From this time forth, with the powers vested in me, this post serves as public notice of the issuance of one unrevocable lisence to cherish405 to have special dispensation in the matter of drive-by huggings as she sees fit. ~rayofson~
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A life to cherish - 3/25/2009 9:18:49 PM
|
|
|
cherish405
Posts: 32136
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: The Land Down Under
Status: online
|
Ok, where's the time gone?
I can't believe that I turn 40 next week! (4/4)
The friend that I was going to be sharing my birthday with can't come now as her son's ball/prom is on that same weekend. She thought that she could do both, but has decided that she can't. I don't like being the centre of attention and now I have nobody to deflect attention to. That part, I'm not looking forward to.
Our friends also arrive from Wales. Joan thinks that they are arriving the same day as the dinner at the restaurant, the 3rd. Our friends have always told her that they would arrive when she least expected it. They are arriving on the 1st, and will just arrive to surprise her. They're shortening their trip to Hong Kong, or wherever they were going to get here early. They will be here for 10 days. They head north of our state, and I'm not sure if they come back to Perth before flying interstate.
So, I'm turning 40. I've been told that it's a big milestone. I've been told that I look 30 or younger and that they thought I was joking about turning 40. I just about had a nervous breakdown when I turned 30 as I thought it was so old! Now it's just like, "Who cares?!"
I'm going to get my hair coloured for the first time on Tuesday. Putting some lighter coloured foils in. Hopefully it will turn out looking alright and not affect my sensitive skin. I've got some black pants already, but I've bought myself a new black shirt, a long sleeveless, purple knit tunic to go over that and some black/white and purple beads that go well with it. I put it on a hanger last night to show them the effect of the top layers. They liked it. John reckons I should take it to the hairdressers with me to get the hairdresser to match my foils with it. 
One of the people coming from Wales is gluten intolerant, so I've had to go out to buy a heap of stuff that he can eat. Never had to make meals for somebody who's coeliac before. Will be interesting. Hopefully I don't stuff it up and make him sick.
Things have still been difficult with me. I'm still teary a lot. I've gotten really crabby on the new meds. John remembers that I was like that a lot last time too. I asked if I should come off of it, and he reckons that despite my crabbiness, I'm more alert and able to do more.
The scarves I talked about making? I had about 4 already knitted in the beginning. I'm up to number six that I've knitted since last week. I counted up all the balls of yarn, and I have enough for about 40 scarves. Hopefully I'll have them done before winter.
_____________________________
From this time forth, with the powers vested in me, this post serves as public notice of the issuance of one unrevocable lisence to cherish405 to have special dispensation in the matter of drive-by huggings as she sees fit. ~rayofson~
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A life to cherish - 3/30/2009 11:53:46 AM
|
|
|
cherish405
Posts: 32136
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: The Land Down Under
Status: online
|
The 4th is on its way.
So are our friends from Wales. Just looked their itinerary and they leave Singapore tomorrow, and arrive here in Perth on Wednesday.
Tomorrow I get my hair coloured for the first time. I'm getting some foils put in my hair. That's one thing that John and Joan are giving me for my birthday. Joan's had them done a few times. I like the look of them. I wonder what I'll look like when I get mine done. I hope I don't end up having a bad reaction to the chemicals. As much as I shouldn't be, I'm a worry wort. I'm sure things will be fine, but I worry anyway. Something I really should stop doing.
Grocery shopping tomorrow afternoon, after we have our hair done. Then come home and I want to make some more meals for when our friends are here from Wales. I always worry that we won't have enough food. Thankfully we've got gluten free food, (pasta etc), that S can eat. Have been trying to plan meals that won't upset him. I've never made meals for a coeliac before. Completely different from what I'm used to. Oh well, it'll be a change. Managed to get some meals made on the weekend, but that's only a start towards what we will be needing for when they are here.
_____________________________
From this time forth, with the powers vested in me, this post serves as public notice of the issuance of one unrevocable lisence to cherish405 to have special dispensation in the matter of drive-by huggings as she sees fit. ~rayofson~
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A life to cherish - 3/31/2009 1:15:09 PM
|
|
|
cherish405
Posts: 32136
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: The Land Down Under
Status: online
|
It's been a long day.
Got my hair coloured for the first time. I saw a picture that I liked, but the base colour on the pictured model was a bit lighter than mine. Ended up getting top foils done instead of half a head. Still looks nice though. I thought I could possibly end up leaving there not very happy with my new look. Only because I don't handle change very easily. Seems it worked out a lot better than I though.
Got some grocery shopping done so that we had ingredients to make meals for our guests. On Saturday, Curried Sausages were made, along with Apricot Chicken. After getting home today, mass amounts of Beef Stroganoff, Satay Chicken and Shepherd's Pie have been made. It's just after 1am and the last of the meals have either just been put into the fridge or freezer. We just need to reheat them and put some fresh pasta, salad or something else to get a nice fresh meal.
Our friends would have lost Singapore by now. The arrive later in the day. It will be so good to see the look on Joan's face when she realises that they managed to get away with surprising her again. That will be priceless!
Well, just going to go to a few more threads and turn in for the day. Other than the friends arriving from Wales, I have a doctor's meeting in the morning. Talk to you all later.
_____________________________
From this time forth, with the powers vested in me, this post serves as public notice of the issuance of one unrevocable lisence to cherish405 to have special dispensation in the matter of drive-by huggings as she sees fit. ~rayofson~
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A life to cherish - 4/4/2009 10:24:09 PM
|
|
|
cherish405
Posts: 32136
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: The Land Down Under
Status: online
|
Wednesday night arrived, and so did our friends from Wales. Joan was completely stunned as nobody had told her they were coming early. She and I were sitting outside with Bailey. Joan was hanging up laundry on a clothes hanger. She was in her 'home' clothes, not her best clothes. Shirley walked out and said hello and her husband, David, walked out behind her with his video camera recording the big event. It was so funny. She thought she'd be in control, but found out very quickly that she hadn't been.
Well, it's Sunday morning now, and the parties are all over.
Friday night, there were 28 of us eating at a smorgasbord - 26 adults and 2 kids. It was a good night. I'd had a panic attack earlier in the day, something I hadn't done in ages. It was just the thought of having so many people there and knowing that there would be a crowd. I don't handle crowds well. I ended up enjoying more than I thought I would.
Last night was less stressful. Less people and a less formal atmosphere.
Got lots of lovely gifts, which is wonderful. Don't know how I'm going to get to some of the places that I have vouchers for, but we'll get there.
Sundays, our friends usually give us a day off. They go and do things on their own, and we don't see them for dinner. They'll be back tomorrow night. A good day to recover, and we really need it. It just seems like we've been on the go for ages. Getting meals made, doing groceries, having parties, visitors etc. John and Joan decided yesterday that we'd stay home today and just be together. I somehow think that we'll all be catching up on sleep.
_____________________________
From this time forth, with the powers vested in me, this post serves as public notice of the issuance of one unrevocable lisence to cherish405 to have special dispensation in the matter of drive-by huggings as she sees fit. ~rayofson~
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A life to cherish - 4/10/2009 10:22:23 PM
|
|
|
cherish405
Posts: 32136
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: The Land Down Under
Status: online
|
What a week it's been! Things have been so hectic around here that I've barely been on CW all week. Trying to cook for 11, some of whom have really big appetites. Very late nights every night. Trying to get all the groceries we needed to keep the troops going. Trying to find birthday gifts so we could give them out before they left Perth. I don't know about our friends from Wales, but I know it left our household absolutely exhausted!
Thursday night was the last night we saw our friends. They had to get their hire car back early Good Friday morning, which meant they didn't have any way of getting back to us. As it turned out, they did a day trip and it would have been too late to have come over again last night anyway.
Earlier this morning, they flew to an area a couple of hours flight north of us to a place called Broome. It's a lot hotter there than here. They thought Perth was hot!
Our friends really enjoyed themselves. They have already said that they will be back as soon as they can manage it. One told me last night that they are going to start saving again as soon as they get back to Wales.
The last night we had them here, we gave them their birthday gifts. We wouldn't be around when they had their birthdays, so we thought we'd give them theirs whilst they were here. Everybody enjoyed their gifts.
A turns 40 this year, so we thought we'd give her something extra special. We gave her a bracelet that left her absolutely speechless. If you know A, you'd know that that never happens. But it did this time. She told me later that night that if she ever gets married again, she's going to be wearing that bracelet on her wedding day as she loved it so much. When I talked to her on the phone last night, she said that she hadn't taken it off. She loved watching it sparkle and shine.
Her dd was given, amongst other things, a teddy bear in the shape of a sitting dog. It looks like our real one, which she totally loves. Our dog's name is Bailey, and her toy dog is now called Bailey also. Her mother told me that she hasn't put the dog down since she got it. It went to bed with her, when they went on their day trip, they made a lead for him out of one of her grandmother's suitcase straps and he went on the bike with her around the island. I daresay her Bailey is going to be a jetsetting dog.
DS was given some leggo that makes up into robots. In between dinner and dessert, he got himself organised and put together the model. He didn't even realise that he had been asked if he wanted dessert. He was so engrossed. Good to see I made good choices.
Now we just have to get things ready for them for Christmas. We want to get things into the mail by sea mail for them this year instead of it running late and costing a fortune. I'm already thinking of Christmas for them, as I want to make a cross stitch for her, (A), and it's a particularly fiddly one. I'm really out of practice when it comes to cross stitch, so it's going to take a lot longer than it used to. Hence starting as soon as I can. Not thinking of any other Christmas projects.
In the meantime, I'll get back to making the scarves that I started on before they all got here. It's still really hot, but I'll sit in front of the fan or air conditioning so that I can get them done. I've forgotten what the count is so far. I'll have to have a count of them.
Just planning a quiet weekend. I don't know what I did, but the area of ribs that I cracked last year are really hurting again. Big movements definitely hurt, but so does breathing and small movements. I'll just have to be careful. I'm making sure that I support my arm and shoulder as I'm typing.
_____________________________
From this time forth, with the powers vested in me, this post serves as public notice of the issuance of one unrevocable lisence to cherish405 to have special dispensation in the matter of drive-by huggings as she sees fit. ~rayofson~
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A life to cherish - 4/18/2009 11:30:49 AM
|
|
|
cherish405
Posts: 32136
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: The Land Down Under
Status: online
|
Well, the car is home. It's red. The paintwork is pretty faded, but at least it works, which is better than we've had for a very long time! There's concern though over the paperwork. He made a mistake on the transfer papers, and he hasn't given John and Joan the registration papers. We went out in it yesterday. Me being me, I don't feel easy about the paperwork situation. The guy who owns/owned the car goes to our church. He's a truck driver and I think he's going away on a long trip this weekend, so we might not be able to get the paperwork this weekend. Hopefully soon though.
This morning I got the shock of my life. I think I've mentioned before that I'm not close to my family. Well, since my parents passed on, there's only my two older brothers. As I grew up, I always wished that our family would be close, but with all the things that happened, our family was never close. My parents were both alcoholics. There was abuse. My brothers are close in age, as well as relationship. I've been trying to keep the lines of communication open over the years. I'd be lucky if I heard from my brothers once a year. In the last couple of years, twice a year. Christmas and my birthday.
So, back to this morning. Last weekend, I got a phone call from my youngest brother. He'd sent me a birthday email. I don't know what happened, but I got a message on my birthday from his email account that was sexually explicit and very rude. I knew he wouldn't have sent it, but I told him so that he would know that somebody had been into his account and was doing things they shouldn't have been. He panicked and called me to assure me that it wasn't him who sent the message. This morning, I was only thinking how it was a week ago that I'd heard from my brothers. A few minutes later, I get a text message from my oldest brother telling me that he was looking at our house on google earth. He asked how far our house is from the airport and how long it took as my brothers are going to come and see me some time in November. I was really shocked as I haven't seen my brothers since I was in New Zealand last. That was in 1993-1994. Even though I've been inviting my brothers over for years, they've never come. It was a shock to hear that they are finally coming. In one way, I'm really excited that they are coming over. I can get to spend some time with them. They can meet John and Joan. Most of me at this time though is absolutely terrified! We have the same DNA, but they are like complete strangers to me. They both left home when I was really young. (They are 8 and 9 years older than me). I don't know what their likes and dislikes are. I've met their wives, but don't know them very well. I've met my oldest brother's son and daughter. I've met my youngest brother's son, but I've never met his daughter. She wasn't even thought of, let alone born when I was in New Zealand last. My oldest brother is a grandfather to five, and I haven't met any of them. I haven't even met my niece and nephew's partners or know their names. This is completely new territory for me. It's going to take some getting used to, the whole idea of getting to see my brothers and spending time with them.
_____________________________
From this time forth, with the powers vested in me, this post serves as public notice of the issuance of one unrevocable lisence to cherish405 to have special dispensation in the matter of drive-by huggings as she sees fit. ~rayofson~
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A life to cherish - 4/19/2009 4:30:15 AM
|
|
|
cherish405
Posts: 32136
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: The Land Down Under
Status: online
|
My health in recent years hasn't been great. When they found over 50lbs of borderline malignant ovarian cysts, I was ok with that. I felt God's peace after the initial shock. In later years however, when I was diagnosed with diabetes, an eating disorder and fibromyalgia, I was absolutely shattered. As each diagnosis came, the more broken and hurt I felt. Depression has been a life long thing with me. I am getting help for the depression.
This morning I stayed home from church again. Partly because I'm not feeling well and partly because of where I am emotionally and spiritually.
When I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia last year, I couldn't understand why God would allow it. Some have said that sometimes it's allowed so that we will draw closer to God. There's a part of me that could never turn fully away from God, but at the same time, I know I'm running. I just feel so hurt and broken. I guess there's a part of me that feels angry at God for allowing this, even though it's not His fault.
I don't know why I did, but I turned the radio on this morning. Anybody who knows me well, knows that I love music. I like listening to it, I love to sing it, I used to play clarinet years ago, and God sometimes ministers to me with it. I hadn't planned to turn the radio on, but when I did, I heard a song that I've never heard before. It's called Revelation and it's by Third Day. I won't post the whole song, but this is how I feel.
Revelation by Third Day
My life has led me down the road that's so uncertain
Now I am left alone and I am broken
Trying to find my way
Trying to find the faith that's gone
This time I know that you are holding all the answers
I'm tired of losing hope and taking chances
On roads that never seem
To be the ones that bring me home
Give me a revelation
Show me what to do
'Cause I've been trying to find my way
I haven't got a clue
Tell me should I stay here
Or do I need to move
Give me a revelation
I've got nothing without you
I've got nothing without you
_____________________________
From this time forth, with the powers vested in me, this post serves as public notice of the issuance of one unrevocable lisence to cherish405 to have special dispensation in the matter of drive-by huggings as she sees fit. ~rayofson~
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A life to cherish - 4/19/2009 10:48:06 AM
|
|
|
cherish405
Posts: 32136
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: The Land Down Under
Status: online
|
Just reflecting on what I wrote in my previous post, I realise that I sound very 'woe is me'. I know that so many have to deal with far more serious things than I, AND still keep their faith and trust in God. I know that I'm not at that place. I'm not saying that I never will be some day. I just know that right now, I'm not. It's something that I need to deal with. As I said in my previous post, I know that I could never fully turn my back on God. When He prompts me to do things, to be used in some way, I do it.
Somehow I just need to get back to a place where I can interact with God better and trust Him more. Allow myself to get back into a place where God can minister to me and I can crawl back into His arms so that I can receive His comfort.
Deep down, I know that it's not God's fault that all this has happened. Maybe He does have a purpose for all of this. The bible says that He uses all things for good. I don't know what good will come of this, but then I guess I don't have to know.
_____________________________
From this time forth, with the powers vested in me, this post serves as public notice of the issuance of one unrevocable lisence to cherish405 to have special dispensation in the matter of drive-by huggings as she sees fit. ~rayofson~
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A life to cherish - 4/30/2009 9:23:19 PM
|
|
|
cherish405
Posts: 32136
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: The Land Down Under
Status: online
|
John and Joan are now the proud owners of a Toyota Camry. I know that I'd said that we had been given it a couple of weeks ago, but the previous owner was dragging his feet in getting all the appropriate paperwork to us. We were wondering if we were going to have to give the car back to him. We made sure that we got all the paperwork etc first before paying him. Otherwise we could have paid for the car, and it it hadn't been his car afterall, we would have been in a mess.
It's been a sad time. A friend of mine went into early labour last week, (she was about 23 weeks), and the baby only lived 3-4 days. She and her husband are devastated as one would expect. The funeral will be next weekend. They want us all to wear bright clothing as babies love colour.
Another 2 friends of mine have died of cancer. At one of the funerals, the pastor gave an altar call, and 2 people came to Christ. That part is awesome.
The 27th of April would have been my mother's 75th birthday. I still miss her. And my dad too. He would have been 81 this July.
_____________________________
From this time forth, with the powers vested in me, this post serves as public notice of the issuance of one unrevocable lisence to cherish405 to have special dispensation in the matter of drive-by huggings as she sees fit. ~rayofson~
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A life to cherish - 5/1/2009 10:27:37 PM
|
|
|
cherish405
Posts: 32136
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: The Land Down Under
Status: online
|
Something amazing has happened for our church, and therefore, our wider community.
My church is one of the largest in the city. In the time that we've been in that building, we have completely renovated the kitchen, making it into a medium sized professional kitchen. There are 5 main churches that contribute to our kitchen. One guy tithes a cow every week, so we get the beef from there. We have a cafe where people can walk in one day a week to get a free meal. They hear the gospel at those times too. Not long ago, we had some people from the cafe be baptised.
Anyway, back to the cafe. As I said, we have churches contribute to our church. We contribute food too, and we have some chefs on staff. So the food that is brought to the church, is made into meals, and then redistributed back to the churches and used as outreach to the community.
Anyway, it was just announced that there is going to be a new programme starting up and our church will be the first to be to use it. One of our local supermarkets contacted our church, knowing that we make meals for outreach, and were told that they would be able to come into the store and get foods for free. Not just the things that would normally go to foodbank, but fresh meat, bread, vegetables etc! It would be an ongoing thing. That would so help with what we could do with the cafe. If I were able to, I'd go down and give them a hand, but with the way my body is at the moment, there's just no way. We feed thousands of people a year. Imagine how many more people we could feed with all the provisions that we could get from the supermarket! I've shopped there before and they don't have low prices. There's is one of the most expensive in their chain. I'm just so glad that they are willing to help us out in this way. Thankyou God!
_____________________________
From this time forth, with the powers vested in me, this post serves as public notice of the issuance of one unrevocable lisence to cherish405 to have special dispensation in the matter of drive-by huggings as she sees fit. ~rayofson~
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A life to cherish - 5/7/2009 11:09:31 AM
|
|
|
cherish405
Posts: 32136
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: The Land Down Under
Status: online
|
Things have been so crazy around here lately, and I have been feeling so overwhelmed. Last night I just completely lost the plot, sobbing and just wanting to scream. Poor John and Joan were there trying to pick up the pieces.
We have so many people around us at the moment who have either died, or are dying. I feel so sad that on Saturday morning, I have a funeral to go to of a little boy who only managed to live for 3 days. He was born months too soon, and just couldn't survive. I was at his parents' wedding a few years ago. I know how much he was wanted. His family have been so devastated losing this little boy. His grandmother is like family to us. I held her in my arms as she cried, saying it was so unfair, and how her daughter was hurting so much and she didn't know what to do.
There are so many other friends who are battling cancer and other things.
I'm not saying that he's dying, and I certainly hope not, but Joan had a phone call this morning from her brother. A few years back, he was diagnosed with bowel cancer. They did surgery on him, and he managed to recover from the cancer. Today Joan found out that his cancer has returned. He's already spent some time in hospital due to this cancer and will need to spend more time there. Due to his previous surgery, they can't operate again this time. We don't know what his treatment will be this time. If you think of it, he and his family could really use our prayers. Neither he nor his family, (other than Joan), are Christians. It would be good to know that whichever way God decides to heal, that he has made a real and lasting commitment to God.
Thankfully I'm not dying, but if you feel called, I'd really appreciate prayer too. Some of you know that I have fibromyalgia. It has worsened far beyond what I thought it would. Going to the mailbox is now something I consider to be an achievement. Even with pain meds, it is extremely difficult to deal with having this condition.
There are lots of things happening here that I'm finding really difficult. I know that only God can help me with all these things.
_____________________________
From this time forth, with the powers vested in me, this post serves as public notice of the issuance of one unrevocable lisence to cherish405 to have special dispensation in the matter of drive-by huggings as she sees fit. ~rayofson~
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A life to cherish - 5/14/2009 11:22:11 PM
|
|
|
cherish405
Posts: 32136
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: The Land Down Under
Status: online
|
I don't know why, but I always seem to remember anniversaries. Not just the good ones, but also the not so good.
Ten years ago today, almost to the minute, I got a phone call from my family telling me to come home. That my mother was in hospital and not expected to make it through the night. I'd tried all I could to get back to New Zealand, but I knew that God didn't want me to go back there.
Ten years tomorrow, I came up to stay with John and Joan for a few days. I've never left.
_____________________________
From this time forth, with the powers vested in me, this post serves as public notice of the issuance of one unrevocable lisence to cherish405 to have special dispensation in the matter of drive-by huggings as she sees fit. ~rayofson~
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A life to cherish - 5/20/2009 11:55:36 AM
|
|
|
cherish405
Posts: 32136
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: The Land Down Under
Status: online
|
Rain! We have rain! Tonight is the first rain of the month for our city. We need it so desperately as we've had so little rain in such a long time. We've been warned by the weather bureau to tie everything down as the winds are going to be pretty high. It's supposed to be like that for 4 days. So if I'm not here for a while, you know why.
_____________________________
From this time forth, with the powers vested in me, this post serves as public notice of the issuance of one unrevocable lisence to cherish405 to have special dispensation in the matter of drive-by huggings as she sees fit. ~rayofson~
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A life to cherish - 5/24/2009 3:40:03 AM
|
|
|
cherish405
Posts: 32136
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: The Land Down Under
Status: online
|
The last few days have been cold and wet. We really need the rain. Even with what we have had, our dams are still not even up to 30%. I haven't liked the cold temperatures when I've been out feeding Bailey. That's really telling us that winter's here. It's nice to come inside though and snuggle with a quilt.
My brother has just sent me a message saying that their flights and accommodation are all booked for the trip over here. It's still scary thinking that I'm going to be seeing my brothers again after all this time. I know they'll find something to do if I can't get around with them as much as I'd like to. I do hope that I get to spend some time with them though and show them around a little bit.
John was the only one who made it to church this morning. He's come home with a sore throat though. Joan and I have had that for days. Joan was supposed to be at a church meeting right now, but she's not feeling too good. She's asleep in bed. We've cancelled the friendship group that we were supposed to be having tomorrow as we don't want anybody getting sick from us.
_____________________________
From this time forth, with the powers vested in me, this post serves as public notice of the issuance of one unrevocable lisence to cherish405 to have special dispensation in the matter of drive-by huggings as she sees fit. ~rayofson~
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A life to cherish - 5/29/2009 7:52:01 PM
|
|
|
cherish405
Posts: 32136
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: The Land Down Under
Status: online
|
Like most people, there are nights when I just don't sleep well. For me, that happened last night.
I've said in the past that music is something that can really minister to me. At times when I can't sleep for long periods of time, I turn the radio on. It's set to a Christian radio station here in my city. Just a little while ago I heard a song that I've never heard before. It's called "By Your Side" and it's by a group called Tenth Avenue North. Maybe you've heard the song already. It was a song that really comforted me. If you're going through a tough time, maybe it will encourage you. I wish I could post the whole song, but I guess if you're interested enough, you could google it and see the rest of the lyrics for yourself. (Sorry, I STILL don't know how to do links). Here's part of the song:
By Your Side - Tenth Avenue North
'Cause I'll be by your side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you call
And please don't fight
These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you
Look at these hands and my side
They swallowed the grave on that night
When I drank the world's sin
So I could carry you in
And give you life
I want to give you life
_____________________________
From this time forth, with the powers vested in me, this post serves as public notice of the issuance of one unrevocable lisence to cherish405 to have special dispensation in the matter of drive-by huggings as she sees fit. ~rayofson~
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A life to cherish - 6/7/2009 10:12:13 PM
|
|
|
cherish405
Posts: 32136
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: The Land Down Under
Status: online
|
Hi everybody.
Have I mentioned to you that I've been knitting? My index fingers are really not liking me right now. I promised one of the school chaplains that I would get some scarves to her for her and the other school chaplains to give out this winter. Winter started for us on the first of June. I'm using leftover yarn from a scarf making phase that I went through a few years ago. The yarn isn't like normal wool. It's like feathers, and it's very warm. I've got all sorts of colours. I used to make them for my friends and then a few people asked to buy some. So, to stop the yarn cluttering up my bedroom any more, I thought I'd do something useful with it and make the scarves to give away to kids who need them.
After I finish this knitting, I don't want to see yarn or knitting needles again for a VERY LONG TIME!
_____________________________
From this time forth, with the powers vested in me, this post serves as public notice of the issuance of one unrevocable lisence to cherish405 to have special dispensation in the matter of drive-by huggings as she sees fit. ~rayofson~
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A life to cherish - 6/19/2009 11:02:49 PM
|
|
|
cherish405
Posts: 32136
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: The Land Down Under
Status: online
|
Yesterday wasn't an easy day for me. It was the 10th anniversary since my mother passed away. Anniversaries always mean so much to me, and they really get to me.
Tried to keep busy yesterday. John had an appointment with a rheumatologist just opposite where my favourite Christian bookstore is. He dropped Joan and I off there while he went to his appointment. I went in thinking that I'd end up coming home with a lot of books for me. I didn't. This time of year, it seems all my friends are having birthdays. So, I was getting birthday presents for several people. I'd only picked out 2 novels for me, but put them back as I knew that I would go over my limit. I didn't mind though. I can go back and get them another time. Not only that, but books that I ordered months ago are finally coming in from the US and being delivered to me. At the moment, I'm not reading either. Not that I don't like reading. I do. It's just that I can't read and knit at the same time. If I hold the book with one hand, I can't knit one handed. Oh well. Once I've got all the knitting done that I want and need to get done, then I'll go back to reading again.
So far I'm at 31 scarves. I've started 2 more. Just in case I get tired of 1 colour, I can switch. I think I've got about another 11 more to go after those, but I'd have to double check those figures. I've also got some other scarves that I need to knit up for Christmas gifts, (penpals and friends in the UK), I'm going to knit one for my rehabilitation physiologist as I know she really feels the cold, then I'll be done. I won't be rushing to get those done though. The one for the rehabilitation physiologist needs to be done relatively quickly after the others, as it is our winter over here, but after that, there's no rush, which I think is an absolute blessing.
So yesterday, I spent time at my favourite Christian bookstore, came home and did a little knitting, slept surprising amounts, (I think because I was up and about a lot earlier than I normally am - John's appointment was really early, a bit of a distance away and in peak traffic). Last night we tried to have a game of uno. I'm winning, but I don't remember playing it. Apparently I was falling asleep in between turns. I guess the fact that I kept playing shows just how much I love playing the game.
By the time John and Joan were heading off to bed, I was getting pretty teary, thinking about my mother, but I didn't want to call anybody back. I knew they were tired, and even though I know that they would have wanted to have prayed for me, I let it go.
Yesterday the weather was horrendous. A bit further south of Perth experienced a tornado. Not a really widespread one like they get in the US, but still enough to cause quite a bit of damage. That area is not an area I would like to live in. It seems when tornadoes hit, it's always down that way.
_____________________________
From this time forth, with the powers vested in me, this post serves as public notice of the issuance of one unrevocable lisence to cherish405 to have special dispensation in the matter of drive-by huggings as she sees fit. ~rayofson~
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A life to cherish - 6/19/2009 11:52:42 PM
|
|
|
cherish405
Posts: 32136
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: The Land Down Under
Status: online
|
I have to take it easy again today. I have another ear infection. Probably part of the reason I was sleeping so much yesterday.
I went back to see the rehabilitation physiologist on Thursday. We talked about what exercises I've been doing at home. Any changes in health. She got me doing some exercises whilst I was there. She also gave me some exercises that I can do at home. Most of them I can use other things as substitutes. For example, seeing as I don't own weights, I can use tin cans of food. She's given me some theraband so that I can do some resistance work. I can just walk around instead of using a treadmill. I've also got a stationary bike that I can use if I don't feel like walking. I'm going to try and get a fit ball. That will increase the number of exercises that I can do.
_____________________________
From this time forth, with the powers vested in me, this post serves as public notice of the issuance of one unrevocable lisence to cherish405 to have special dispensation in the matter of drive-by huggings as she sees fit. ~rayofson~
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A life to cherish - 6/27/2009 9:55:32 PM
|
|
|
cherish405
Posts: 32136
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: The Land Down Under
Status: online
|
Today I'm sad. The last few days, the news has been plastered with the death of Michael Jackson, and to a lesser extent, Farrah Fawcett. We all saw Farrah's death coming. We heard that she'd been given last rites. I wasn't expecting to hear that Michael Jackson had died.
The first cassette that I ever owned was Michael Jackson's. My brother had given it to me for my birthday. The first record I ever owned was "We Are The World", also featuring Michael Jackson.
I have to say that I'm really upset. Not necessarily for the reasons that you think though. Yeah, I liked Michael Jackson. I grew up listening to his music. Now I'm upset about what will happen to his kids. They've had a unique and strange life where their dad always wore a mask over his face and made them do the same. Then there was his legendary glove. Will they still be expected to wear their masks? How will they feel now that they may not have to wear them any more? What had Michael been teaching them about wearing those masks? Will they feel more vulnerable now that they have nothing to hide behind?
And, of course, there will be the custody battle over who gets to have the kids. It's said that whoever has his kids will also have his money. Will they care more about the kids or the money?
What upsets me most though is the reaction of his fans and devotees. Some were saying that it was like losing a member of their family. Did he sit and eat with them? Did he have long discussions with them about things that really matter? I'd suggest that he didn't. Yes, he had some unique talents. He entertained a lot of people. People went crazy over this man. That's just it though. He was just a man.
Wouldn't it have been awesome if all those people had put so much of their love and devotion and praise instead of in Michael Jackson, but in God? If that level of love and admiration had been towards Christ, the One who came to die for their sins and save them from a lost eternity? I think that it's so sad that people can put so much love and devotion towards someone who was just as human as the rest of us, and neglect the love of a God who truly loves them and wants fellowship with them.
_____________________________
From this time forth, with the powers vested in me, this post serves as public notice of the issuance of one unrevocable lisence to cherish405 to have special dispensation in the matter of drive-by huggings as she sees fit. ~rayofson~
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A life to cherish - 7/2/2009 11:06:32 AM
|
|
|
cherish405
Posts: 32136
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: The Land Down Under
Status: online
|
Today would have been my dad's 81st birthday. I doubt that they even think of birthdays in heaven. It's just left for those of us who have been left behind.
_____________________________
From this time forth, with the powers vested in me, this post serves as public notice of the issuance of one unrevocable lisence to cherish405 to have special dispensation in the matter of drive-by huggings as she sees fit. ~rayofson~
|
|
|
|
 New Messages |
 No New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
 Locked w/ New Messages |
 Locked w/o New Messages |
|
 Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts |
|
|
Forum Tools
Printable Version
WOOHOO! 
