Since I promised a overview of 2013 so I can kick off a proper start to blogging a new in 2014 , here it it is . A quick look back at 2013.
As I reported last year , my wife in February was given the 5 year clean form cancer . Needless to say we were both truly grateful and thankful . Its a strange thing really because after we were told no more trips to the city for checks , it took me a while to really feel that it was done . So that was a true highlight of the year .
Turning 50 . On November 15 last year , I entered into my 50th year on this planet . Half a century if you will . I can't say I was bothered by it , but it still felt different and a bit strange. It was a great birthday . My boys both got some really cool stuff for me , had a small gathering just with my family and truly felt blessed and grateful .
On a sad note , I lost a a friend to cancer in August of the last year . He was only 59 . We had worked together years ago and had our ups and downs but we had remained friends and I always looked forward to chatting with him about life , hockey and whatever else came up . I was asked to speak at his funeral , and I was truly honoured to speak . His wife and son both said I did him proud and I truly hope I did . It was a very hard thing to do . One thing I took away from this is the brevity of life and how I truly wished I had more time to connect with him more over the last few years . Yes it caused me to regret time wasted but it also taught me how precious friendship is and family.
Christmas was an excellent once again , with lots of food and family .
In general it was a year of highs , lows and struggles . So that is enough about last year . I look forward to writing with new vigour and hope it will be a regular thing . So 2014 here I come .
Monday, February 24, 2014
Friday, February 21, 2014
Slow Start or What
Ok , I had every intention of blazing into Blogging like a crazed fiend , but as they say best laid plans . However , my first real kick off will be a over view of 2013 . So be ready for the epic , OK more like the ordinary review of a year in the life of a guy living in the valley in the province of Nova Scotia , Canada .
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Back in the Blogging Mood
Its been a long time between blogging. I just decided to take a break from writing . Not that I didn't have stuff to say or topics I wished to cover but one has to know when its time to be silent. Well now its time to put to blog again what is on my mind and heart . Much to reflect about and much to think about as I move forward as well .
As normal I will cover whatever I wish , some about the past , some about the present and musings about everything in between . The good , the bad and fun , I hope so anyway. So the few that may read my rants and ramblings , welcome back and enjoy .
As normal I will cover whatever I wish , some about the past , some about the present and musings about everything in between . The good , the bad and fun , I hope so anyway. So the few that may read my rants and ramblings , welcome back and enjoy .
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Living in the Shadow of Cancer
Today was a day of liberation . A day when the shadow of cancer has been put prayerfully and hopefully away forever.
Yesterday , my wife was given her 5 year clear . For all intent and purposes , she is considered cancer free. It was over 5 years ago when the cancer first presented itself . From the point of official diagnose , the family entered into the world of cancer. It has a way of creating a shadow , a cloud over the whole family . Especially in the first year with the surgery , the treatments and the recovery . It seems to consume the whole household . But after the first year , and the treatments seem to be going well , you still pray and wait and see what will happen with every check up , every trip or test you wait . Quietly you pray and hope .
As I watched my wife , get stronger and pass every check up , my confidence grew but always in the back of my mind the shadow lingers . Until the 5 year mark comes , you know that there is still a chance and possibility it can still present itself and come back. Over the the last 5 years , we have seen others be diagnosed . Some are still fighting and a good friend and wonderful support for us lost his battle , when his cancer came back with a vengeance. So when that occurs , you take a breath , move forward and realize , it isby God's grace and mercy alone one lives.
So yesterday was a good day . No , it was a great day . But its also a reminder of the brevity of life . It is truly a shame it takes something like this to smack you in the head and make you take stock . Even then you still lose at times , the preciousness of life . But I will say in many ways this past 5 years has been a blessing. Let me list a few.
It has brought both my wife and myself back to the Lord . In fact it has been a wonderful thing to see my wife grow and become more solid in doctrine and boldness. She has more opportunities to share her faith and witness than ever before. Even though we had both highs and lows over the last 5 years , I do believe that even in our weakness , our testimony to God's goodness has been a solid witness to our sons .
Plus I would like to openly thank all those who prayed , wished us well and supported Kathy and my family with so much generosity . Especially in the first year , when money was very scarce . People amazed us both with giving and support. I will ever remain humbly grateful.
Last thought , as I know others who are still fighting this dreadful disease , my prayers are with you and your family . To those who have lost someone way too soon because of this blight , I say I weep with you knowing the pain ( having lost my Mom over 20 years ago ) . But ultimately my prayer is for all to know the one who will undue the results of sin when He comes in His glory .
Yesterday , my wife was given her 5 year clear . For all intent and purposes , she is considered cancer free. It was over 5 years ago when the cancer first presented itself . From the point of official diagnose , the family entered into the world of cancer. It has a way of creating a shadow , a cloud over the whole family . Especially in the first year with the surgery , the treatments and the recovery . It seems to consume the whole household . But after the first year , and the treatments seem to be going well , you still pray and wait and see what will happen with every check up , every trip or test you wait . Quietly you pray and hope .
As I watched my wife , get stronger and pass every check up , my confidence grew but always in the back of my mind the shadow lingers . Until the 5 year mark comes , you know that there is still a chance and possibility it can still present itself and come back. Over the the last 5 years , we have seen others be diagnosed . Some are still fighting and a good friend and wonderful support for us lost his battle , when his cancer came back with a vengeance. So when that occurs , you take a breath , move forward and realize , it isby God's grace and mercy alone one lives.
So yesterday was a good day . No , it was a great day . But its also a reminder of the brevity of life . It is truly a shame it takes something like this to smack you in the head and make you take stock . Even then you still lose at times , the preciousness of life . But I will say in many ways this past 5 years has been a blessing. Let me list a few.
It has brought both my wife and myself back to the Lord . In fact it has been a wonderful thing to see my wife grow and become more solid in doctrine and boldness. She has more opportunities to share her faith and witness than ever before. Even though we had both highs and lows over the last 5 years , I do believe that even in our weakness , our testimony to God's goodness has been a solid witness to our sons .
Plus I would like to openly thank all those who prayed , wished us well and supported Kathy and my family with so much generosity . Especially in the first year , when money was very scarce . People amazed us both with giving and support. I will ever remain humbly grateful.
Last thought , as I know others who are still fighting this dreadful disease , my prayers are with you and your family . To those who have lost someone way too soon because of this blight , I say I weep with you knowing the pain ( having lost my Mom over 20 years ago ) . But ultimately my prayer is for all to know the one who will undue the results of sin when He comes in His glory .
Friday, October 5, 2012
Can One Fathom To Hear God Sing
The LORD your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he
will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17
My heart was restless today . As I looked at my life, my sin and where I'm at I was troubled . It made me feel defeated . Then later on during my reading of numerous blogs I came across this passage of scripture used in the piece that was written over a very sad event in a father's life . The loss of a child . So as it moved me away from thinking about me , which we can do way too much at times , I said a silent simple prayer for this man I do not know personally . Then as I read this passage , I realized that I must trust that it is God who will quiet my soul with His amazing love . A love that showed itself on the cross . A love that showed itself on that third day . A love that one day will come for me .
But what really blew my mind away is that the God of the whole universe , the one who created the planets , the stars and every living thing exults over me with singing. Singing , God singing over my soul . Should that not calm ones heart . Should that not give one a peace that the world cannot comprehend. The peace that this father and family needs as well can only come from God . God is singing with this man's daughter and singing over this father's soul as well . He is over all who trust in Christ for salvation . He is not a impersonal force or a far away God but in Christ , through the Holy Spirit is near , He lives within you by His Spirit and is singing over you right now . Oh what a God , oh what a Savior .
My heart was restless today . As I looked at my life, my sin and where I'm at I was troubled . It made me feel defeated . Then later on during my reading of numerous blogs I came across this passage of scripture used in the piece that was written over a very sad event in a father's life . The loss of a child . So as it moved me away from thinking about me , which we can do way too much at times , I said a silent simple prayer for this man I do not know personally . Then as I read this passage , I realized that I must trust that it is God who will quiet my soul with His amazing love . A love that showed itself on the cross . A love that showed itself on that third day . A love that one day will come for me .
But what really blew my mind away is that the God of the whole universe , the one who created the planets , the stars and every living thing exults over me with singing. Singing , God singing over my soul . Should that not calm ones heart . Should that not give one a peace that the world cannot comprehend. The peace that this father and family needs as well can only come from God . God is singing with this man's daughter and singing over this father's soul as well . He is over all who trust in Christ for salvation . He is not a impersonal force or a far away God but in Christ , through the Holy Spirit is near , He lives within you by His Spirit and is singing over you right now . Oh what a God , oh what a Savior .
Monday, October 1, 2012
Odds and Ends
Odds and Ends will be just a over all free for all . It will cover numerous thoughts or observations in quick sound bites . So without further ado , shall we begin.
Great Listen : Best album of the year so far is Andrew Peterson , Light For The Lost Boy . It is a beautiful collection of songs reflecting on living in this fallen ,broken world as pilgrim and follower of Christ . Get it as soon as possible .
Summer Movies : This summer was a banner year if you like superhero movies . You had Avengers , a new Spider-man reboot and the final film in the Batman trilogy . All three were excellent . The Avengers managed to entertain and over all achieve what I wondered could be done , featuring numerous hero's and still giving them all room to breath . It was a perfect popcorn flick . The new Spider-man hit all the right bells and whistles . With the new actor Andrew Garfield playing Peter Parker , he hit all the quirky nerdiness needed . Plus Emma Stone was perfect as Gwen Stacy. The action was awesome and it had a heart . But the best was the Dark Knight Rises . The movie had all one could ask for . Great action , superb acting , emotional depth and a fitting resolution to Bruce Wayne/ Batman story arc. It was the best .
You Got to be Kidding Me : In a more serious vein , recently in Canada's parliament a motion to re-examine when human life begins was handedly defeated . So in Canada a 400 year old law that says that human life does not exist till a baby exits a woman's womb still stands . So technically under the law as it stands , there is no real protection of a unborn baby till he or she exits a mothers womb . Many saw this as an attempt to open up the abortion debate . Well sure it was . But why are the opponents so afraid of having a real open and honest debate . Because as science has opened up the window of the womb , it has given those who are for life , a hammer to smash the lies of the killing fields at the abortion clinics. We know thanks to DNA research, that life begins at conception. Plus we all know that when a woman becomes pregnant it is a human being she is carrying . We all say she is having a baby . No one says , well I hope its human and not a chicken. We truly live in a country that has much blood on its hands and every MP that voted against this motion should be ashamed .
Sunday, September 30, 2012
A Proper Way to Launch a New Start
This is the time to return to the world of blog. I had intended to reboot months ago , but found myself almost in a fixed pause mode . So I figured to kick off my return , I would feature the new trailer for the upcoming film The Hobbit. I love Tolkien , so needless to say this movie is highly anticipated. The trailer looks awesome . Plus the good news , it will come out before the Mayan doomsday calender prediction . That is a win .
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