MOTHERS DAY

It was fun to have Clare, Jodi and Abbey here overnight. Clare made pancakes and sausages for our breakfast and even made Mickey Mouse ones! They were Abbey's favourite when they visited Disneyland. Clare's are back in Weyburn this afternoon as it's another windy, rainy day. The forecast is for warmer days ahead so seeding may get underway later this week.

Yesterday I went with Jodi and Abbey to Crosby, ND. It's just 18 miles from our farm and has the neatest gift shop as part of J Company Drugs. Jodi hit a great sale - 70% off of about half of their Precious Moments collection. Her niece, Danielle, is getting married this year and collects Precious Moment figurines! Jodi chose several in the wedding series and found a couple to add to Abbey's collection too - got eight for $100. Two of them would have cost that much at the regular price. We ended up at the grocery store. They always have good sales too - especially on cheese. And Abbey found Oreo cookies for Grandpa!

When we got home Jodi cut the lawn. It really needed it as it hadn't been cut yet this year! It's hard to keep ahead of the rain this spring. My tulips are just starting to bloom. I had gorgeous tulips a few years ago but they produce best when the bulbs are new. I'll add a picture that shows the tulips when they were at their peak.

It was good to attend worship services at Torquay this morning. We have been absent more times than present the last couple months. We went to the Torquay Cafe for lunch, along with our neighbours, Ron and Gail Fonstad. It was nice and warm in the cafe. Can't say the same for Trinity as there is a problem with the furnace and there was no heat at all, except for a couple space heaters that didn't quite do the job on such a cool morning.

We were saddened to hear of the sudden passing of Henry Pederson last Friday evening. Henry and Della were residents in the Lac Qui Parle area north of Torquay. They moved to a condo in Estevan several years ago but Torquay was still "home". Henry has been alone and lonely since Della's passing. On Friday he had lunch with friends at the Estevan Mall. His family met for supper that evening as they had come home to clean out the house on the farm as the land has been sold. After supper Arvid took his dad home to his condo and they were visiting with the friend from next door. Henry took a couple deep breaths and was gone. Quite a shock for his family and friends, but what a peaceful end to a life well lived. He was 88 years old and was a man with a deep faith in God. He has gone "Home" but will be dearly missed by his family and friends. He was a member of the Lac Qui Parle choir for a big part of his life. We are left with many precious memories of Henry and Della. His funeral service will be on Tuesday, May 11 at 2:00 at Trinity Lutheran in Estevan.

Last Friday afternoon Howard and I, together with Vickie Skjonsby and Phyllis Hurren, shared some music with residents of St. Joseph's Special Care Home in Estevan. Howard's Aunt Viola is a resident there. She is the next best thing to a mother for both of us so it was special to sing for her and take part in the Mother's Day tea. Vickie, Phyllis and I, along with Vi Sabin, sing as a trio known as "The Torquay Grannies". Vi couldn't be there so Grandpa Howard helped the grannies out - sang two solos and joined me in some duets. The three Grannies sang several songs, Vickie and I also played some old time music on piano and accordion. We invited guests and residents to join us in singing the Mother's Day song from a few years back -"M is for the million things she gave me". I looked it up on the internet to be sure I had the words right and was surprised to learn that the words to this song were written by Howard Johnson! I guess it wasn't the Howard I'm married to as the words were written around 1915, twenty years before my Howard was born! We look forward to singing again in June when Aunt Viola celebrates her 93rd birthday. I hope I am as alert as she is if I should live that long!

Mothers Day is a day of reflection for those of us whose mothers are no longer with us. I remember as a child in our home church at Frontier, we wore carnations for Mother's Day - pink if your mother was living, white if she wasn't. Carnations were given out at Trinity today, but in no specific colors. Each child was given a carnation to present to mother or grandmother. Pastor Cicely always makes the service special for the children. Today there were eight there to pass our carnations.

1984 was the last year that I could have worn a pink carnation on Mothers Day as mom passed away that fall after suffering a massive heart attack the year before. She had just turned 65. I have now outlived her by three years and am thankful for each day that I am granted. For many years it seemed that none of the Haaland siblings would live past 70 years. Uncle Morris died of cancer while in his 40's. Aunt Camilla and Uncle John both died of heart attacks soon after turning 70 years. Uncle Herb died in a car accident in his early 50's. But then Aunt Marie lived to be 90 years, Aunt Ruth is now 88 and today Aunt Helma had her 96th birthday! I am more optimistic about living a longer life, but that is all in God's hands. I keep my high blood pressure and high cholesterol under control with the help of drugs. I need to get more exercise and lose a few pounds. I'm working on it and can only say "it's a work in progress". Sandra, I must admit that I'm not on course to lose ten pounds by the end of June, but if I can lose 5 it will be a good start. I'll let you know what happens! Happy Mothers Day to all the mothers and other special ladies in our lives.