Weekend Joy Givers

My beautiful Jessica who has just turned 11 and now wishes to be called Jess.

Devoted Sisters Jess and Em.

Just Gorgeous.

Crazy Child, so glad she is so crazy and funny.

This time last year she was on dialysis.

God is Good.

We are So Blessed.

Saturday

Saturday with two delightful children is a JOY. Simple pleasure, simple pastimes, children's laughter and conversation. Takes me back to my childhood and my children's childhood. I love days like this. I am such a lucky grandma.

Japan Eathquake and Tsunami

The power of nature is awesome and makes us realise how weak and small we humans are. After watching the news reports from Japan I am astounded at the power of water. I am full of admiration for the Japanese people. The strength of character and dignity they are displaying is amazing. 
God Bless and help them in the days to come.

Rainbows

When ever I see a rainbow, I always know my mother is around me.  When ever I am worried about something or in a stressful situation, quite often a rainbow will appear.  As two did the day I heard she had passed away.  I  was 350 miles from home when the phone call came.  Her death came as a complete shock, totally unexpected. I went down to the waters edge on a clear bright May afternoon.

There was a sudden sun shower and then the two most glorious rainbows appeared over the island of Bute.  I knew straight away it was a sign from my mother that she was at peace. Since then when I have needed reassurance, a rainbow will appear, not every time, but quite often. 

Today was one of those days. After weeks of worry and being downright scared, Ralph had an appointment at the hospital for the results of an MRI scan on his head.  His headaches have been getting worse and his vision playing up too. We have both been coping with the worry in our own ways, but nor talking about it to each other.  Today driving to the hospital and in the waiting room, he was very quiet.

After three hours seeing nurses and consultants we found that the problem is.........

He has got a SQUINT.

His left eye is slightly lower than his right eye, so the eye and the muscles on the left side of his head have been working hard to keep in balance with his right eye. Therefore causing the pain and the double vision and kaleidoscopic effects he has been getting.  He has to have an operation sometime in the next ten weeks and hopefully the headaches etc will cease.

So my mother sent a sign that all is well and not to worry with a beautiful rainbow.

This is why I have been a little subdued lately.

But now I am polishing my rainbow and dancing.

I'm a Believer.

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.  The six weeks leading up to the most solemn and the most joyful occasion in the Christian calendar. I am going to be using this coming six weeks to examine my relationship with God.

I am a "lapsed catholic" and I have issues. At this stage of my life I feel the need to examine, my beliefs, my conscience, my aspirations. This is going to bring up some painful stuff that is for sure. There are family issue's, religious issues, personal agonising, personal doubts, personal history.

What I do not have is doubts about the living Christ. I believe in Him wholeheartedly, I just need to know He believes in me.  So I am setting off on a journey tomorrow, a journey I hope will bring me everlasting peace and JOY in knowing God loves ME.

Good Times

We had a lovely afternoon in Liverpool today. I needed to visit a special bookshop there, so we went after I finished work. It was a cold but bright day. We enjoyed a leisurely stroll through the city, visiting a few of our favourite shops and cafe's, taking photo's along the way.

As the sun was setting we were beside the river yet again I felt the emotional pull of this fabulous city of my birth.The new Liverpool Wheel looks stunning as it glows int the darkness.My favourite picture of the day, my darling looking out across the Mersey.  Two of my loves together.

A Little Bunch of Sunshine

My first bunch off daff's of the year, they brighten up even the dullest of days.

Note To Self

He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.

Muhammad Ali



Tulips

I visited a friend last week and she had a bunch of Tulips on her dining table. She started to apologise as they had "gone over".

I strongly disagreed with her. I think they are beautiful when they are fully open.
They are very pretty when closed but when the are fully open they are stunning.

I had the pleasure of visiting the Keukenhof Gardens in the Netherlands several years ago and so enjoyed the rainbow of tulips they have there, fields and fields if colour. I must take my dear husband there sometime soon.

Do what makes you happy today.

Joyful Little Flowers

Don't you just love Snowdrops? Such brave little flowers. 

The first to poke through the hard cold earth in the depth of winter.

I took these photo's in my mother in law's garden at the weekend.

They are such an inspiration to me.

If these little beauties can fight their way through the cold Scottish earth.

I can fight my way out of this malaise I find myself in at the moment.