tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8753241106741933772024-03-13T14:08:18.513-07:00Little-bits-of-RandomLife as I know it is a random mix of God ordained moments.. these are my ramblingsDihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05187824167399277044noreply@blogger.comBlogger114125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875324110674193377.post-33890338688618694222013-07-23T13:06:00.000-07:002013-07-23T13:06:08.931-07:00No excuses.... no looking back..... just going to post.<br />
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It is said that with good friends, you can simply pick up where you left off and go from there. No questions, no excuses, no regrets, no worries, no guilt. Well that is how I am feeling about my blog, I am just going to pick up and go forward, no should have, could have, or would haves. (well maybe just a tiny bit of guilt - but I can deal with that). It is time to sit down with a good cup of java and write on.<br />
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This morning while sipping my coffee I was truly moved to tears for the 3rd blog entry in a row, by this....<br />
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It is so worth the time to read...<br />
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<a href="http://hopefullearning.wordpress.com/2013/07/23/mom-and-daughter-speak-for-the-first-time-beyond-hello-day-3/">http://hopefullearning.wordpress.com/2013/07/23/mom-and-daughter-speak-for-the-first-time-beyond-hello-day-3/</a><br />
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Who says that ONE person or ONE group can not change the world? It is possible, and it is happening in one of the reportedly worst neighbourhoods in Canada. Listen to your heart. How are YOU going to change the world? (How am I? - Know that anytime I ask those sorts of questions I ask them of myself too.)<br />
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ONE amazing story. ONE woman following her passion . ONE Down Town East Side (DTES) resident's world has been changed FOREVER. ONE daughter many, many, many kilometers away has had her world changed too. Kristi - the blog writer touches the deep corners of my very core and rises to the surface memories of days gone by.<br />
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This story resonates with me deeply and I am transported back.... <br />
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ONE day many, many, many days gone by.<br />
ONE little girl sits on her dad's knee looking at family photos. <br />
ONE finger pointed<br />
ONE face she did not recognize.<br />
ONE question; WHO is that?<br />
ONE Father struggling with an answer<br />
ONE old wound opened<br />
ONE journey that led to the DTES<br />
ONE long lost father reunited with his son<br />
ONE grandfather meets 2 of his granddaughters for the first time<br />
ONE meal shared<br />
ONE memory made<br />
ONE old wound starts to heal.... ONE is a good place to start!<br />
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There is power in <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>ONE!</strong><span style="font-size: small;"><strong> </strong>So much power. . . . I know that it did for my grandpa, for my dad, for me! For Cindy, and it can for YOU too!</span></span><br />
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Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05187824167399277044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875324110674193377.post-87149766605083911072012-11-02T23:57:00.000-07:002012-11-02T23:57:01.625-07:00Imagine....<h2 align="center">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Happy Birthday Day</span></h2>
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<em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Days for Girls</span></em></h2>
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(a day late, but you know what they say... better late than never)</div>
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I feel so blessed to be a part of such a great organization. </div>
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Founded in 2008 <a href="http://www.daysforgirls.org/#!home/mainPage" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">Days for Girls</span></a> has been changing the world one pair of panties at a time! </div>
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How is that possible?</div>
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SIMPLE</div>
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<span class="font_3"><span class="color_11">Every Girl. Everywhere.</span></span></div>
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<span class="font_3"><span class="color_11">Period.</span></span></div>
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Days for Girls aim is to <span class="font_6"><span class="color_30">empower </span></span></div>
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<span class="font_6"><span class="color_30">girls and women worldwide</span></span></div>
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<span class="font_6"><span class="color_30">to have access</span></span><span class="font_6"><span class="color_30"> to sustainable </span></span><span class="font_6"><span class="color_30">quality </span></span></div>
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<span class="font_6"><span class="color_30">feminine hygiene, </span></span><span class="font_6"><span class="color_30">health, education </span></span></div>
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<span class="font_6"><span class="color_30">and dignity </span></span><span class="font_6"><span class="color_30"> by 2022. </span></span></div>
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This is done by sending feminine hygiene kits to girls in developing countries.</div>
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Each kit contains </div>
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<strong>1 Pair of panties</strong></div>
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2 shields</div>
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8 liners</div>
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face cloth</div>
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2 large Ziploc bags </div>
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(aka the world's smallest washing machines)</div>
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&</div>
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Instructions for use and care.<br />
A bar of soap is also added when they reach their destination.</div>
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That one pair of panties included in the kit changes the girl's . . .<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">INSTANTLY!</span></div>
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<em><strong>I.N.S.T.A.N.T.L.Y.</strong></em></div>
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<strong>Imagine</strong>, not having to look through garbage heaps on the side of the road, using paper, leaves, dried animal dung, cardboard, old rags pretty much anything you can find to block or try to stop their periods. <strong>Imagine</strong> not having the means to be able to purchase what was needed each month. <strong>Imagine</strong> going to the store and there is NOTHING on the shelves to be able to purchase even if you were able. <strong> Imagine</strong> using anything absorbent that you happen to "find". <strong>Imagine </strong>washing disposable products to try to be able to use them again. <strong> Imagine</strong>..... for 100's of 1000's of young women around the world they do not have to imagine, for this is their reality. </div>
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To a woman in a developed nation any of the above scenarios seem unimaginable. We go to the store and face a wall of options, dozens of choices, with applicator or with out, with wings without, heavy days, light days, thin pad, long liner, regular, ultra thin.... the list goes on. Then we have the audacity to get upset when the ONE style we prefer is out of stock. <strong> Imagine</strong> life without those options.... </div>
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If you can <strong>imagine</strong> even a portion of the struggles girls in developing nations face, then you can <strong>imagine</strong> the change a hygiene kit can make. In that instant, there is hope. Hope opens doors. </div>
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Based on a montly cycle lasting 7 days & each kit lasting aprox 3 years, each kit reclaims<br />
252 DAYS of living.</div>
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Days where they do not have to stay at home</div>
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Days where they can go to school</div>
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Days when they will not have to feel like they do not belong</div>
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Days they will be educated </div>
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Days that that they will be able to work</div>
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Days where they can support their family </div>
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Days when they can participate in life!</div>
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252 DAYS</div>
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6048 Hours</div>
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362, 880 Minutes</div>
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21222800 Seconds</div>
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When she receives a kit she will no longer have to saty at home when her period arrives. Education is possible, an educated girl WILL change her world.<br />
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Imagine the possiblities..... <br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></em></h2>
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Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05187824167399277044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875324110674193377.post-75587552782931517332012-10-05T09:46:00.000-07:002012-10-05T09:46:26.267-07:005 min Friday free write..... I recently linked to<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/" target="_blank"> Lisa-Jo's</a> site via another<a href="http://dberruti.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank"> blog I read</a> and was immediately drawn to the concept of a 5 min free write, <br />
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"No extreme editing; no worrying about perfect grammar, font, or punctuation.<strong> </strong></div>
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Unscripted. Unedited. Real"</div>
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Every Friday at one minute past midnight a new writing prompt is posted and off you go..... well I totaly forgot about it at one min past midnight so here I go now..... with a little bit of trepidation.</div>
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Oct 5</div>
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Welcome......</div>
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Your Welcome - politeness</div>
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Welcome to our Home - hospitality, graciousness</div>
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Welcome to the world - Excitement newness<br />Welcome to the family - Hopefulness, wondering</div>
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Your welcome to try.... - Fear, adventure, learning</div>
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you do not want to overstay your welcome.... - oh oh.</div>
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(Ugh phone rings...answer or let ring.. right now it is NOT a WELCOME interuption... )</div>
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Welcome to my world, when I sit to do something I often get interupted. In a house of 5, and 2 extras under 4 2 days a week, it is inevidable. Sometimes those are welcome interuptions such as a visit from a friend, or a quick kiss from my sweetie. Other times they are not so welcome, the knock of a child on the bathroom door when you just NEED 2 min of quiet. We have all been there. </div>
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BUT How often am I the interuption? How often are my interuptions welcome, or unwelcome? I pray that I do not overstay my welcome, that when I knock on the door people truly desire to welcome me in - Do I even think about such things in the moment? Or do I just assume? </div>
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there is one with whom I know without a doubt I am always welcome... I am thankful that I know without a doubt when I knock on the door of heaven one day I will be welcomed with open arms, and that on that day there is no overstaying one's welcome because I will finally know where home truly is. </div>
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(Shoot, I over shot by 1 min.. must have been the phone call or first time jitters) </div>
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Sticking to 5 min was a little tough, once I got started I wanted to keep going. The urge to go back re read, re type was strong, old habits are hard to break. I look forward to next week and playing along again. (maybe I will even remember at one min after midnight....)</div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://lisajobaker.com/five-minute-friday/%22%20title=%22Five%20Minute%20Friday%22%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://lisajobaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/5minutefriday.jpg%22%20alt=%22Five%20Minute%20Friday%22%20title=%22Five%20Minute%20Friday%22%20style=%22border:none;%22%20/%3E%3C/a%3E" target="_blank"><a href="http://lisajobaker.com/five-minute-friday/" title="Five Minute Friday"><img alt="Five Minute Friday" src="http://lisajobaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/5minutefriday.jpg" style="border: none;" title="Five Minute Friday" /></a></a> Click the link to join the fun. I know all my scrapbooking / journaling friends will love it. (O.K. Some of you will and others are thinking... here she goes again preaching the importance of Journaling - Remember only you can tell YOUR story!)</div>
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Happy writing</div>
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Di</div>
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Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05187824167399277044noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875324110674193377.post-41499885671303668042012-05-26T07:26:00.000-07:002012-05-26T07:26:22.132-07:00"WINNER" in the lottery of LIFE....Be it by simple luck of genetics, birth right or purely by the luck of the draw I have won the Lottery of life, as have most of you! The lottery of life is not a major influx of cash, though we are wealthy, it is not a new car, though in all likely hood we have at least test driven one in our lives, it is not flashy or rare, but it is most valuable. The lottery of life winners are winners simply because of where they have been born. I win because I have been born in Canada, in North America. Others win because they were born the USA, parts of Europe, Australia and a handful of other developed nations in the world, nothing more, nothing less simply LOCATION of birth. <br />
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That's it.... LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION - they say that is the key element in business, in retail product placement and now lottery winners! By simple location of birth we are wealthy, the vast majority can easily provide the essentials of life food, clothing and shelter, with out much trouble. Remember I said ESSENTIALS of life, not the EXTRAS. So many people, simply because they were not in a Lottery winner LOCATION at birth do not have the LUXURY of providing the essentials.<br />
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I challenge you to take 18 min of your time and watch this TED video.... and maybe YOU can help someone win the lottery despite their location.<br />
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Together we can make a difference.</div>Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05187824167399277044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875324110674193377.post-6055846138030646482012-05-16T07:44:00.000-07:002012-05-16T07:44:11.491-07:00Graduation..... what a beauty.Today's wordless Wednesday was a no brainer. Graduation of our second daughter has taken the spotlight. Hard to believe, time flies......<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pPtn-F8s2b8/T7O5mMpVCsI/AAAAAAAAAX4/Y84nbMaHL3o/s1600/IMG_5827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pPtn-F8s2b8/T7O5mMpVCsI/AAAAAAAAAX4/Y84nbMaHL3o/s400/IMG_5827.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PXs9IVYwnGA/T7O5gug87sI/AAAAAAAAAXw/MDvPFS29kLI/s1600/IMG_5697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PXs9IVYwnGA/T7O5gug87sI/AAAAAAAAAXw/MDvPFS29kLI/s400/IMG_5697.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05187824167399277044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875324110674193377.post-76594588988155797672012-05-09T23:36:00.000-07:002012-05-09T23:36:14.619-07:00Wordless Wednesday take 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pMeXpkfd4s8/T6tfuvkX-2I/AAAAAAAAAXU/HwpN8XPaqZc/s1600/IMG_5634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pMeXpkfd4s8/T6tfuvkX-2I/AAAAAAAAAXU/HwpN8XPaqZc/s200/IMG_5634.JPG" width="132" /></a></div>Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05187824167399277044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875324110674193377.post-63479265001449277632012-05-09T10:43:00.001-07:002012-05-09T10:43:14.512-07:00Working on a new WED feature....I have to confess this is not a new idea fresh from my own head, I first saw it on a friends blog<br />
<a href="http://www.hopfinniger.blogspot.ca/2012/04/wordless-wednesday.html" target="_blank">Hopf In Niger</a> , I love the concept of a day dedicated to photos, life as it is right now etc. I have since found a few other sites that do similar things. The concept is quite simple, we all know the saying a photo is worth 1000 words, post a photo or photos on Wednesday, and let them speak for themselves. <br />
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I am going to give it a try. I know that means I have to be on the ball, to get photo's ready to roll each week, I am hoping it will motivate me in a few ways. First to pick up my camera again, Second to actually download them and deal with them and finally to share and blog regularly. Let's see how it goes. First photo(s) to be added today....... I hope you enjoy !Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05187824167399277044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875324110674193377.post-61358928704258250752012-04-27T13:18:00.000-07:002012-04-27T13:18:41.040-07:00Trash & BlessingsI love it when all the pieces fit together, especially in unexptected ways. Turning trash to treasure, and blessing many people in the process. <br />
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Inventory is never a fun part of any job, this year as we faced a warehouse downsize, inventory certainly was going to be a bigger challenge than ever. We counted and sorted and the trash pile grew. There were lots of useful things that had been sitting on the shelves not selling, in some cases for years, we needed the shelf space, so they were getting the heave ho. So sad, these were perfectly good products that had huge potential to help someone. I asked my boss what his plans were and he said he would like to donate them somewhere but did not know where to even start. WAHOO... I jumped in and told him that I would ask my connections in Niamey, Niger, West Africa if they thought the items could be of use. Doc Ace assured me that he thougth the items could be put to good use.<br />
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That was all I needed to hear, we were off and running. I packed up the "trash" and took it home. Thankfully my husbands office has this HUGE empty basement area that we are able to store things if we need to. So off to his office went the 5 very large boxes of "trash" to be stored untill I could figure out how to get it to Africa. Worst case senerio it would take a couple of years and return with team members heading back after some time home in Canada in 2013. I was o.k. with that - but kept my ears open and let a few people know that I had things to send to Niamey. The prayers went up and I waited...<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I9TXYOLDJY4/T5rczxWB_oI/AAAAAAAAAWU/V_Iun2PJ-zI/s1600/IMG_5593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I9TXYOLDJY4/T5rczxWB_oI/AAAAAAAAAWU/V_Iun2PJ-zI/s320/IMG_5593.JPG" width="320" /></a> God had a much faster plan. Just before Easter, my momma called to say that they had a speaker at their church from Niamey, and that she was going back in a week. YIPPEE! I sent of a quick email, asking her if she had room in her suitcase..and if so would she mind taking a few items with her. Not only did she have room, she was only travelling with one suitcase so I could send a whole <strong><em><span style="color: blue;">FULL</span></em></strong> suit case with her. God certainly was putting the pieces of the puzzle together. So I packed up 48 lbs (limit is 50 - but you never quite know how close scales are. so better to be safe than sorry, or paying the over weight charge.) of wrist supports, knee braces, cervical collars, walking boots and a few other odds and ends. Said a prayer that they would get into the hands of those who can use them and off they went.<br />
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Yesterday I received an email from Deborah an occupational therapist that works at<a href="http://galmi.org/" target="_blank"> Galmi Hosptial,</a> several hours outside of Niamey. The Suitcase had arrived at the hosptial yesterday, simply marked Gamli, with no "attention to" or proper address, they had no idea what it was, where it came from or who it was for. Peices of the puzzle, coming together yet again. A doctor at the hospital opened it, took one look and said, this is for Deborah. She was over the moon excited - and stated that she had been praying last week about their need for wrist supports. The suitcase had just what she needed, God had answered her prayer BEFORE she prayed it. I had picked the trash, packed the suitcase and sent it on it's way BEFORE she even uttered the prayer of need. How utterly cool is that? God is in the business of BIG PICTURES, He sees them and put the peices of the puzzle together in perfect order.<br />
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I sit in awe, I am blessed beyond measure to be part of the big picture. I wonder how the pieces will fit together for the next suitcase, there are still several boxes good "trash" to go. Secretly I hope and pray I will be able to carry it and deliver it, to see in person the final destination. A girl can dream. In the meantime I am happy to put it all together at this end so that our trash will be someones treasure. Blessing all who are part of the BIG PICTURE.Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05187824167399277044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875324110674193377.post-22769398447685603452012-04-25T00:30:00.000-07:002012-04-27T13:05:20.380-07:00Lets fight.....Today is International Malaria Awareness Day. <br />
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Malaria is deadly, Malaria is preventable.<br />
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Read more about malaria awareness day and what can be done <a href="http://www.rollbackmalaria.org/worldmalariaday/index.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Education is key.<br />
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The best Christmas gift I received this year was from my family, mosquito Nets for 2 families in Niger, West Africa. To these 2 families this is the gift of life, and peace of mind. Knowing that they are protected from the mosquito's at night, the mosquito's that carry the deadly disease, the disease that worries mothers & kills children. A simple mosquito net used correctly will save lives. Let's fight for these lives. If you would like to know more about purchasing mosquito nets for families in Niger, please take a min to look at page 3 of the <a href="http://cmalliance.ca/files/AllianceCompassionGiftCatalogue2011-12_846.pdf" target="_blank">Alliance Gift Catalog</a> and page 22 for the donation form. $25 can save a life... or 2 or 3 depending on how many are sleeping under it. <br />
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Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05187824167399277044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875324110674193377.post-11998900079506175412012-04-04T22:02:00.000-07:002012-04-04T22:02:30.780-07:00Simply sad....So many things in my life are good. It is not perfect, but it IS good.<br />
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Simple things truly make me happy;<br />
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Family & friends.<br />
Watching a one year old discover bubbles.<br />
The first signs of cherry blossoms showing their pink ruffles.<br />
Hearing my favorite song on the radio.<br />
A good book, or a good cup of Cinnamon coffee. <br />
A random meeting with an old friend in the mall.<br />
Laughter, the kind that ends with tears rolling down my cheeks . . . . . . . Truly simple things!<br />
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Too bad life is not always simple.<br />
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Sometimes things happen that strip that simplicity.<br />
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Things that on every level are complex. <br />
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Today at the beginning of my relatively simple happy life, I read this...<br />
<a href="http://chroniclesofourjourney.blogspot.ca/2012/04/up-in-flames.html?spref=fb" target="_blank">Up In Flames</a><br />
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A blog entry written by my friend Chantelle, director of the <a href="http://nvoc.ca/" target="_blank">Niger Vocational Girls at Risk School</a>, this is where I was in September of 2011, working with the girls, learning from these girls, falling in love with these girls. I left a chunk of my heart there with these girls. Today as I read, my heart was broken, deep down in a I am helpless, what can I do sort of way. <br />
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Up in flames... very litterally, a few days ago, the local market, the market I shopped in, bought fabric in & walked through, was burned to the ground. Chantelle's blog entry shows before and after photos, it tore at the core of my beeing. Before I even finished reading I had tears streaming down my face, and I felt totally & utterly helpless. WHY? Do these people not struggle enough? HOW will they even begin to rebuild? It seems so unfair So many people who had so little to start with now have nothing..... litterally NOTHING but ashes and chared messes where livelyhood once stood.<br />
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Fire is devastating in any uncontained form, but like this it is unfathomable. Homes & jobs can be lost, all that a family has can be wiped out in the blink of an eye. We truly have no comprehension of such loss here in North America where we have fire regulations, insurance, built in sprinkler systems, not to mention resources to rebuild. In Niger, where the economic situation is bleek at best, a land where water is scarce, famine has a stronghold & where refugees are streaming in from surrounding countries by the 1000's, adding to the stress on resources, a fire like this has unmeasureable consequences. <br />
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My heart is there with these people, as they try to look ahead to what comes next. Praying they find the strength, resources and courage to move forward. Wondering if there is anything that can be done from here. It is complicated... sending $$ may be easy for us, but is it best for those there in Niamey? Culturally is it best for them? Is that what need? Or do we go, with hammer in hand to help build? Work beside them as they reclaim their livelyhoods? No matter what happens, one thing for sure, it is going to be a long, long journey. <br />
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Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05187824167399277044noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875324110674193377.post-90837453879596544332012-03-30T13:51:00.003-07:002012-03-30T23:59:33.762-07:00Something worth thinking about.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3SO3dHg-sRw/T3YWJosWY6I/AAAAAAAAAWM/6sDc0Zbzcd8/s1600/Indian+water+well.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3SO3dHg-sRw/T3YWJosWY6I/AAAAAAAAAWM/6sDc0Zbzcd8/s400/Indian+water+well.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>In light of my last post, this photo really pulled at my heart strings.<br />
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I have looked at this photo for a very long time this is what strikes me.<br />
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The first being, I can not even begin to imagine this life. My life in North America is so very different. I realize that my observations come from a very naive and inexperienced place. A place that however naive is compassionate to the plight of this group of people. I believe that such photos raise awareness, and when we are more aware, we are better able to <span style="background-color: white;">adjust our way </span><span style="background-color: white;"> thinking and be people of action and advocacy.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"> </span><br />
It looks hotter than hot.<br />
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This well is HUGE. ( Has anyone ever fallen in????)<br />
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I guesstimate that there are close to 200 people in the photo ( I tried to count, but my eyes are not that good)<br />
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There appears to be at least 2 or 3 pots / containers per person.<br />
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I look and I wonder how many people come to this well each day?<br />
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How big are their families?<br />
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I wonder how far they have to walk? <br />
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I find it interesting that both men and women gather at the well.<br />
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I wonder how long this well has been active and how long before it runs dry.<br />
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Just a few of the things that popped into my head...<br />
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What do you see? What strikes you? <br />
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I hope in the very least it makes you thankful for the running water in your home.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">On a side note I would love to give credit to the person who took the photo, but could not find the original source. I will continue to look, and when I do will happily post proper credits.</span>Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05187824167399277044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875324110674193377.post-192184777751918202012-03-22T10:47:00.000-07:002012-03-22T10:47:41.606-07:00World H2O day.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Awareness is key.</span> </div>Thinking about a world - or area of the world - with out water is difficult for many. Especially those of us who live and grew up on the "wet" coast. In a city where the annual rainfall is1117.2 mm per year finding water is not a problem. It's simple, we turn a tap and voila safe, affordable, clean water for anything we need. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, it is available. On the rare occasion the water main is turned off for maintenance, we think we suffer. We get notice of when that suffering is o happen and are given an approximate time line. We "prepare for the disaster"by filling pots & containers, refrigerating, and if it is going to be a really long time we fill our bathtubs "Just in case". We think we suffer. HA, we do not know the meaning of the word. In my small home alone there are 8 sources where water comes into my home or yard. Water is available in a wide variety of locations. From my home I can drive for less than 1/2 an hour in several directions and end up at the ocean or at a fresh water lake, where I can swim, and enjoy many recreational activities. Water is certainly NOT scarce. We are most fortunate, we should not take this life giving resource for granted.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VlRMBSiXUtQ/T2tVHG-0mQI/AAAAAAAAAVs/UFGIUUb1xHQ/s1600/africa+077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VlRMBSiXUtQ/T2tVHG-0mQI/AAAAAAAAAVs/UFGIUUb1xHQ/s320/africa+077.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Water" source ... notice the garbage and the goats</td></tr>
</tbody></table>However, that is not the reality for 100' of 1000's of people who live in climates where they see under 20mm rainfall per year. If that rain comes in "HOT" season, the water often evaporates BEFORE it even hits the ground. Then imagine not having a tap, imagine having to walk for 2 kms or more to fetch water only to have to CARRY it back home, on your back, on your head, in buckets by hand. Only to have to repeat this task again the next day and the next and the next, every day of your life when you require water. This is how you obtain the water you will use for EVERYTHING, drinking, cooking, gardening, feeding animals, bathing - <span style="color: #0b5394;">E*V*E*R*Y*T*H*I*N*G</span>. In many cases the water source is small, stagnant, polluted, shared with animals, used for bathing and laundry,as well as 100's of people who also walk several kilometers there and back daily just for water. Scenarios like this are ones we in North America can not even begin to fathom. Yet this is REALITY for millions in this world. Water, the most basic of human need clean drinking water is not something they ever take for granted by these people. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FkJ5quS6m6g/T2tWKzkHPdI/AAAAAAAAAV0/kjdf2ohMVbQ/s1600/africa+091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FkJ5quS6m6g/T2tWKzkHPdI/AAAAAAAAAV0/kjdf2ohMVbQ/s200/africa+091.JPG" width="111" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"drinking" water in a market stall in Niamey</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nlHfpM9COr4/T2tXSt-JjAI/AAAAAAAAAV8/oT4dBotBndc/s320/Di's+2+Niger+020.JPG" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Women gather at the well for water<br />
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As with most things, unless you have experienced this first hand you can not fathom the issue. Awareness and education are KEY. That is why we need world water day.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1LHx0Ck0sGM/T2tj1FfXa4I/AAAAAAAAAWE/THbfNvxlcwo/s1600/269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1LHx0Ck0sGM/T2tj1FfXa4I/AAAAAAAAAWE/THbfNvxlcwo/s320/269.JPG" width="179" /></a>Here is a little history of <a href="http://www.unwater.org/worldwaterday/about.html" target="_blank">World Water Day</a>. <br />
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If you are looking to be able to help, here is a link to the <a href="http://cmalliance.ca/files/AllianceCompassionGiftCatalogue2011-12_846.pdf" target="_blank">Alliance Compassion Catalog</a> see page 4 on wells and helping get them built. Page 22 is the form to fill out in order to give. <br />
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This is my friend Adam, a village leader, drawing water from one of the wells built as an Alliance Compassion project. The well is just a few 100 meters from the center of his village. It provides fresh, clean, safe water for his village of about 1000 people. Saving them 1000's hours of "water walking" annually. Adam has also said that the health of his village has improved since the well was constructed. That is an invaluable gift. It is the gift of life, of health and most of all the gift of HOPE for the people in Teppe. It is Water.....it is life!Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05187824167399277044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875324110674193377.post-90325144699291902822012-03-01T20:22:00.002-08:002012-03-02T09:02:32.134-08:00Remembering March 1st.....March 1st, marks what would have been my Grandma's 98 birthday. 98, I can not even imagine what life would be like to be 98. The world has changed so much in the past 98 years. One thing I know for certain is that had she still been with us she would have adapted, tried new things, laughed as she said, I am too old for this and above all she would have LOVED watching her great grand children grow up. As a child I knew beyond measure that I was loved by her, and when my girls came along I KNEW that she adored them, nothing made her happier than a visit with her Greats! <br />
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Oh how I miss her, certainly time has lessened the ache, as we have learned to do life with out her. The old adage "Absence makes the heart grow fonder" is certainly true, especially on this day, Her birthday! I always remember even after 14 March 1st's, without her. So today, I pulled out the scrapbook I did for her memorial, and remembered all that she meant to me. Sure there were a few tears, but mostly my heart is full of gratitude for all her life meant to me. For all she taught me. Ultimately for the gift of laughter, the ability to laugh at one's self, and to enjoy a good joke or prank here and there. She will always be remembered with a happy heart, for I know that is how she would want to be remembered, with a smile in our hearts and laughter on our lips. <br />
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Gram, I miss you, I love you, and today I remember with a huge smile in my heart. Blessed beyond measure because I had the privilege that is shared by only 10 others in this whole entire world, the privilege of calling YOU Grandma! Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05187824167399277044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875324110674193377.post-63936786496592964142012-02-11T11:53:00.000-08:002012-02-11T11:53:29.659-08:00Sometimes it really is the little things in life....So, O.K. I confess, I love Pizza! I know in terms of health benefits it is not the healthiest choice, but, well if the <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-17/us-rules-pizza-sauce-is-a-vegetable/3676284" target="_blank">US congress</a> can justify pizza sauce as a vegetable, hen really can it be <em>that</em> bad for you? Mocking aside, I love pizza in almost any form. My Grandma used to make a fruit pizza that was yummy for sure. I have a recipe for chocolate pizza that is fun and easy and also yummy, however my fave is still the standard thick crust, tomato sauce variety. Oh the topping combinations are endless, so really it is never the same pie twice. <br />
Until it comes to left overs, it may be the same pie, but it is never quite the same the second day. That was until today, no more microwave reheat for me, and putting it in the oven always takes too long. Well low and behold, you can get crispy, right out of the pizza oven goodness, from your fry pan. Thanks to <a href="http://pinterest.com/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>, for the awesome hint. <br />
Dry frying pan, medium heat, pizza, covered for 3 - 5 min = glorious crispy crust and ooey, gooey cheesy goodness on top. Pizza left overs will never be the same again. <br />
Now the question is, do I share this with my family (who I know do not read here) or just let them figure it out for themselves and leave more left overs for me. Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05187824167399277044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875324110674193377.post-85857426555295645012012-02-10T11:33:00.000-08:002012-02-10T11:33:41.745-08:00The imagination gift."Di where do you buy imagination?" <br />
"Hmm, Miss B you to not buy imagination, it's a gift."<br />
"Oh, but I want to buy some more."<br />
"Sorry babe, you just can not... but you can make the most of the imagination that you already have"<br />
"But how do I get more then?"<br />
"God gives you more when you use what you have, why don't you go play with the doll people""<br />
"Sure o.k. I am going to make them buy some imagination, just pretend o.k."<br />
" You do that..."<br />
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This girl makes me smile. I love these short conversations with the 3 year old I look after part time. One can learn so much if you just listen. Things we loose as we grow up, imagination, and the willingness to try most things without worry about what others think. Imagination, creativity, acceptance and love are all so pure when looking through the eyes of childhood. Growing up is so over rated, we loose so much of what makes this world so good.<br />
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I am certainly not saying I want to go back, because certain things about childhood, those things that rob us of that purity and acceptance are not something I would ever want to relive. I am thankful for my child hood, all the ups and downs that made it the ride that it was, for it is that ride that made me the woman I am today. <br />
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The sweet imagination of a child, it truly is a gift. One that should be nurtured and encouraged, one that I truly enjoy watching in full swing. Boxes that become stoves, trains, drums, fireman hats and who knows what next just let your imagination be your guide.<br />
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Have fun and use your imagination today....Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05187824167399277044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875324110674193377.post-59495090848472232262011-10-15T11:53:00.000-07:002011-10-15T11:53:22.345-07:00Dear Niger....<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Oh how you are ingrained into my heart. I left your sandy roads three weeks ago tomorrow, and every day since have thought of you. I have tried to process my visit, to figure out how to share, what to say, what to show. You are so different from home, from all things familiar. How do I explain, how my time with you changed me, how deep the impression you made on my heart. I have been at a loss for words, but yet know I have to come up with some, then it hit me, <span style="color: magenta;">words</span>. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">2 or 3 days after I was home a friend asked me for one word to sum up my experience and I came up with<span style="color: #0b5394;"> HUMBLING</span>. So why not one word to match one experience, that will work. Over the next few days I will do just that, match one word with one experience. </div><br />
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em>FUN <span style="color: #f1c232;">relaxing </span><span style="color: #c27ba0;">creative</span> <span style="color: #e06666;">FRUSTRATING</span></em></span></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">Humorous</span></em><span style="color: #c27ba0;"> </span><span style="color: #e69138;"> startling </span><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Rewarding</span></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">sights <span style="color: #20124d;"><strong>sounds</strong></span> </span></em> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">one thing for sure it was all uniquely African! Niger, I will ever be thankful for our time together and I look forward to the next time. Thank you for sharing yourself, each and every experience, but most of all thank you for sharing your people, they are forever and always in my heart. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2as9qdeTqf8/TpnMFq9QMvI/AAAAAAAAAUc/FQUWeiTIkfo/s1600/IMG_1295.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" oda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2as9qdeTqf8/TpnMFq9QMvI/AAAAAAAAAUc/FQUWeiTIkfo/s320/IMG_1295.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zNmrpqZnPWU/TpnL220KbWI/AAAAAAAAAUU/Ot0HnPiaur8/s1600/Shortterm_trip-339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" oda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zNmrpqZnPWU/TpnL220KbWI/AAAAAAAAAUU/Ot0HnPiaur8/s320/Shortterm_trip-339.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M6Nt2Xu3Mvg/TpnKd81fUXI/AAAAAAAAAT0/JU2viCM3bLQ/s1600/061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" oda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M6Nt2Xu3Mvg/TpnKd81fUXI/AAAAAAAAAT0/JU2viCM3bLQ/s320/061.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8qm62H6WbV0/TpnLgncyciI/AAAAAAAAAUM/FulNn1kt218/s1600/Shortterm_trip-143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" oda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8qm62H6WbV0/TpnLgncyciI/AAAAAAAAAUM/FulNn1kt218/s320/Shortterm_trip-143.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ogGOp8vmVHg/TpnMip0wjHI/AAAAAAAAAUk/8oWLItxYcyk/s1600/335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" oda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ogGOp8vmVHg/TpnMip0wjHI/AAAAAAAAAUk/8oWLItxYcyk/s320/335.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yzrnLCZf8W4/TpnSfm09aHI/AAAAAAAAAU0/RmZdep9sudA/s1600/295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" oda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yzrnLCZf8W4/TpnSfm09aHI/AAAAAAAAAU0/RmZdep9sudA/s320/295.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05187824167399277044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875324110674193377.post-13720238955676359002011-09-30T21:00:00.000-07:002011-10-02T17:19:28.111-07:00One word....I was asked yesterday by a friend to sum up my trip in one word. <br />
<br />
One word? Seriously? <br />
<br />
Try it, one word to sum up the last month of your life.<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It is not easy! I did manage to find one word to sum up this experience that took me from home, for almost a month, to the other side of the globe, via 4 different airports, 6 planes, several time zones, way too many languages to count, to a totally different culture, HOT climate, to work with people you have never met, to see one of your best friends on her turf, to do things you have never done, eat things you have never eaten, and just plain a long way from home...... One word.... <span style="background-color: white; color: #6aa84f;"> <span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #cc0000;">HUMBLING</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I live in a country listed as one of the richest in the world, with listings as the best cities in the world to live in. Yet all around I see discontent, people wanting the next newest this or that, not really sure of what is of real value. A country where many people do not know their neighbours, where family is not valued as it should be. A country with more options for groceries than we truly need, with soil that will grow almost anything, and a climate that makes it possible. </div><br />
I visit a count<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XOQREv9rnqA/ToYISNmwnhI/AAAAAAAAATk/yAvGW5l8RtE/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" kca="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XOQREv9rnqA/ToYISNmwnhI/AAAAAAAAATk/yAvGW5l8RtE/s320/026.JPG" width="320" /></a>ry listed 3rd from the bottom of <a href="http://hdr.undp.org/en/statistics/">UN's human development list</a> , the people have next to nothing, the streets are littered with garbage, goats, cows, sheep and young children roam the streets at all hours, a country where people rarely have the opportunity to travel, where even basic education is a luxury. Goods are available on every street corner, but funds to purchase such goods is scarce. However in the midst of this extreme poverty the people are gracious, kind and generous. Family is valued and communities are depended upon. They have joy. in the midst of it all. Experiencing and being on the receiving end of that was truly <span style="color: #cc0000;">HUMBLING</span>!<br />
I will never be the same after Africa......Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05187824167399277044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875324110674193377.post-16816395892578131682011-09-30T11:29:00.001-07:002011-10-15T12:07:37.735-07:00The girls.... MY Girl!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-74sItz0mOIw/ToY4fs7irJI/AAAAAAAAATo/68X-zkGOnmY/s1600/Di%2527s+2+Niger+329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" kca="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-74sItz0mOIw/ToY4fs7irJI/AAAAAAAAATo/68X-zkGOnmY/s320/Di%2527s+2+Niger+329.JPG" width="320" /></a>I have left a smattering of heart pieces all over the city of Niamey, Niger, West Africa, that is no surprise as part of it was already there. About a year ago I was asked if I would like to be a prayer partner for one of the girls attending the <a href="http://nvoc.ca/">Niger Vocational Training School (NVOC for short)</a> and I accepted. I received an email containing a photo and a brief blurb about MY GIRL, her life in etc. So for the past year, I have prayed, for health, happiness despite hardship, that she would be a good student, that her family would have food to eat, and her parents would have work. I have prayed extra hard that she would follow through on her commitment to the school, and complete the 2 years, and NOT marry. I have prayed that she would discover her worth as a young woman, and that she would not believe that the only worth she has as a young woman is when she marries and has babies as is the custom in the area. <br />
<br />
I prayed for this somber faced girl who looked so serious and almost sad, and when I met her she was none of the above. Zeina is full of life, a little cheeky, laughs easily and later in the week poked fun at me. She takes charge and works hard, sometimes getting in others way while doing so. What a blessing to be able to meet her in person and to invest in her life up close and in person. On our last day there she came into the classroom and gave me a little hug, this was HUGE, hugging is not something that is done in their culture, and for her to take the first step was way out of her comfort zone. I love this girl, she has one of the fragments of my heart for sure, she had my heart even before I arrived there. I continue to pray, now I pray that the time I spent with her would be something she values as well.</div>Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05187824167399277044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875324110674193377.post-81963517994655121192011-09-30T10:20:00.000-07:002011-09-30T10:20:35.358-07:00Home since Monday<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dx4xjyYUuag/ToX6JXD_HEI/AAAAAAAAATg/we9O6vCxWSE/s1600/050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" kca="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dx4xjyYUuag/ToX6JXD_HEI/AAAAAAAAATg/we9O6vCxWSE/s200/050.JPG" width="200" /></a>4 days home, and I miss Africa. I miss the people I met, I miss learning and seeing new things, I miss being able to help, I miss the energy of the girls, I just miss it. I guess what 'they' say is true, you either love Africa or you hate Africa! Don't get me wrong, I am happy to be home to all that is familiar, to my family & my friends, to my life here, but processing the whole trip is tough. Finding perspective when I have been, only by luck of the draw, born into one of the richest nations in the world, and my new friends, by that same luck of the draw, have been born into one of the poorest. Where is fair in that? </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">That is where my head is at processing all the things I saw, heard, learned and experienced. This trip was so rich, there is so much to share, I had hoped to be able to write more while I was there, but I was too busy living the experience. So now I will write in retrospect, picking pieces from my journal, adding a few of the 1000+ photos & fill you in on all of the adventures. I hope you enjoy it just the same. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05187824167399277044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875324110674193377.post-64205102992649445882011-09-27T20:28:00.000-07:002011-09-27T20:28:35.375-07:00First impressions....Here are just a few of the sights <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-atdj4q27tDk/ToKI-g5Cw4I/AAAAAAAAATI/lYbyDZ40hOs/s1600/africa+068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" kca="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-atdj4q27tDk/ToKI-g5Cw4I/AAAAAAAAATI/lYbyDZ40hOs/s320/africa+068.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you tell who has the right of way?</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jq6C59WcLOU/ToKNIHBXxEI/AAAAAAAAATM/nff3rk7siUs/s1600/africa+038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" kca="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jq6C59WcLOU/ToKNIHBXxEI/AAAAAAAAATM/nff3rk7siUs/s320/africa+038.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Visitor at breakfast - thankfully outside the screened in porch</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wi_xauQMG8s/ToKQNztDyQI/AAAAAAAAATU/wJ1fZk1z9e8/s1600/africa+080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" kca="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wi_xauQMG8s/ToKQNztDyQI/AAAAAAAAATU/wJ1fZk1z9e8/s320/africa+080.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Garbage piles everywhere, crazy huge piles. People</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">living by them, scrounging in them & goats & sheep</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">eating from them. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_pEuV8Fr4IQ/ToKRZG4MHkI/AAAAAAAAATY/93CV9HEVyXU/s1600/africa+093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_pEuV8Fr4IQ/ToKRZG4MHkI/AAAAAAAAATY/93CV9HEVyXU/s320/africa+093.JPG" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Street market.<br />
Typical African road -<br />
hard packed, washboard,<br />
sandy streets.<br />
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<br />
</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E5YiTypohCg/ToKSarCOvQI/AAAAAAAAATc/oBNKhB_r3vY/s1600/075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" kca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E5YiTypohCg/ToKSarCOvQI/AAAAAAAAATc/oBNKhB_r3vY/s320/075.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Working with my first set of girls. What an amazing <br />
privilege to be here and share this time with them.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05187824167399277044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875324110674193377.post-40443647755156640722011-09-13T14:27:00.000-07:002011-09-13T14:27:58.968-07:00Do you hear what I hearWhat I hear when I just sit and listen....<br />
<br />
<br />
Languages I do not understand<br />
<br />
Car horns<br />
<br />
Children playing in the streets<br />
<br />
Babies crying<br />
<br />
Doves cooing<br />
<br />
Goats or sheep blatting<br />
<br />
Donkey's braying<br />
<br />
Cows mooing<br />
<br />
Roosters & chickens <br />
<br />
My dear friend chatting.... Oh how I love having the chance to be at her house having a chance to visit, to hear her world. To share breakfast on her screen porch and just simply listen.Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05187824167399277044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875324110674193377.post-29937341433184061402011-09-11T08:43:00.000-07:002011-09-11T08:43:31.016-07:00<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xst0dlx9oZk/TmzWl9dTe_I/AAAAAAAAASo/h7K8yB8A6Xw/s1600/africa+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" nba="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xst0dlx9oZk/TmzWl9dTe_I/AAAAAAAAASo/h7K8yB8A6Xw/s320/africa+014.JPG" width="320" /></a>A strange thing happened on the way to London.... they lost a terminal. Wel,l I guess they did not loose it, but demolished it instead... the terminal I had listed for my flight to Morocco, is no where to be found. So the question is now where to go? Thanks to the very helpful Heathrow volunteer I found where I was supposed to go only to find that I can not check in untill 3 hours before my flight, which is 6 hours from now. </div><br />
<br />
The other thing I noticed that flights do not get assigned a gate until 2 hours before a flight. I am told this is a security procedure. Makes sense I am guessing, cuts down on bad things happening to big planes... less time to plan, that works for me. <br />
<br />
So here I sit... watching people, listening to babies cry and wondering where the other 2 gals who will be on the flight to Morocco are. Given lack of gate number I guess we will not be getting to know each other in the 6 hours of waiting.... So goes the adventure.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I am here in London safe and sound. So it's all good. </div>Oh and on a side note the people watching is great... so is my chex mix!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
P.S. I did eventually meet up with the other 3 gals that shared the flight to Morrocco. 2 by random walk by, the third had smartly plunked her self down in a coffee shop, knowing that in all likely hood others would opt for food at some point.Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05187824167399277044noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875324110674193377.post-41144574196145798672011-09-07T17:02:00.000-07:002011-09-07T17:02:59.621-07:00The best layed plans. . . .Life never seems to happen as planned, however it always seems to work out.<br />
<br />
I had planned to leave home at 2:00, go and get Royd from work then head out to the airport. In reality I spent spent the 20 min past 2:00 looking for some papers I needed to bring with me.. UGH.. I need a better filing system than my dining room table. Thankfully, I had printed duplicates, that I did find, and I can write in the car -I filled them all in AGAIN and it all worked out. Traffic was light, and my hubby never drives slower than the speed limit, in the end I arrived at the airport only 15 min schedule. It all works out. I should know this, and relax a little but I get worked up at myself and have conversations in my head about how I need to be better organized, how I should have had all the things I needed in one place blah blah blah.... Yes I talk to my self, no it does not really do much good.<br />
<br />
The longest line I have stood in today was for coffee, and that was only 2 deep. That would include the bathroom and all check in lines. Things are working out just fine. Boarding calls have started, but I am not travelling with young children, or in need of assistance, however I must add that needing rubber gloves to put on socks, had me wondering if I might just need some help. I hope that the socks help keep the swelling down, I will be a happy camper....<br />
<br />
Now I am wandering YVR looking for <a href="http://www.facebook.com/LiveatYVR?sk=wall">this guy</a> who is living at the airport for the next couple of months - My adventure has officially begun! Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05187824167399277044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875324110674193377.post-57027154803265496612011-09-04T09:45:00.000-07:002011-09-04T09:45:05.539-07:00Watch your......<em><span style="color: black;">I just read this on another <a href="http://chroniclesofourjourney.blogspot.com/2011/09/why-short-term-mission.html?spref=fb">blog</a> and was hit with the enormous truth of it. </span></em><br />
<em>We truly do have control of our destiny and it starts in the small recesses of our brain, it is my prayer that my thoughts would be worthy of my destiny.</em><br />
<br />
<em><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Watch your thoughts they become your words <br />
Watch your words- they become your actions <br />
Watch you actions-they become your habits <br />
Watch your habits-they become your character <br />
Watch your character it becomes your destiny</span> </span></em><br />
<br />
<em><span style="color: #444444;">May that be your prayer as well.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #444444;">Have a great Sunday</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #444444;">Di</span></em>Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05187824167399277044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875324110674193377.post-50605632969538685242011-09-01T22:25:00.000-07:002011-09-01T22:25:11.841-07:00September 1st..... big changes in our house.With the modern advancement of digital TV we are now living in the truly dark ages. As of August 31st we no longer have ANY TV in our house. Yes we still have the box, which will remain as a Movie viewer, but there is no longer any stations being fed into our home. It all happened before our very eyes, one minute we were watching something, the next we were watching snow fuzzies.... and so ends the era of our 2 free stations. For our entire married life (coming up 24 years) we have only had cable for 18 months and only then because it was included in the rent. I think that there were several months there where we did not have a viewing device either... so knock that down to about 12 months. Our first viewing device was a 13 inch black and white number complete with rabbit ears and get this.... manual controls. Not a remote in sight, we actually had to get out of our chair to turn the dials. Ah the good old days. <br />
<br />
We have survived, and will continue to survive I know that to some this would be suicide, but we will make the best of it until such a time we change our minds. Or buy a TV that will give us a few free digital channels.<br />
Thankfully we have just a few movies around when the mood stirkes.<br />
<br />
Are we alone in this or are there others of you out there who are now the proud owners of a simple movie viewing device?Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05187824167399277044noreply@blogger.com0