NOVEMBER 4

Ashley posing with her Smurf puzzle

It's a dreary, foggy Sunday afternoon.  I did venture out to worship service this morning after checking with Jeff at the Torquay Customs to see how the roads were this morning after a night of freezing rain.  He said that the closer he got to Torquay from Estevan, the better they were. Gail also sent a text on their way to Oxbow so I knew the roads to town were okay.

On Thursday afternoon Laurel and Ashley drove down to the farm and we went to Estevan to take part in the memorial service at St. Joseph's Hospital chapel. First we met Kirk, Shauna, Lindsay and Jamie at The Tower for supper.  It was good to have a visit there so thanks Kirk.

 The service was in memory of the thirty-one people who had died at the hospital from January to June of this year.  Their names were listed under the heading "We Remember".  As part of the service each name was read and a candle lit for each person.  At the front of the chapel all the funeral cards with pictures were displayed.  The girls were quick to spot Grandpa's and you can see it on the picture.  There were two songs, "On Eagle's Wings" and"Peace is Flowing Like a River"as well as prayers and a "Reflection of Grief" shared by Marian Huber, spiritual care practitioner at St. Joseph's.  She also commented how Howard "kept her on tune" when they had group singing.  She would listen to his voice if she felt hers wasn't quite in tune.  He will long be remembered for his beautiful tenor voice.

Howard's card is first one in the back row of the front table
(The back table has cards for those from the area who died,
but not at St. Joseph's)

A candle for each one

The service was held on November 1, All Saints Day.  Many churches regard today as All Saints Sunday and read a list of members who have died this past year.

In her meditation, "Reflection of Grief", Marian talked about the N's of grief.  It is necessary and normal.  It is also different for each person.  There is no "one way" to grieve or a set time for it to end.

 It meant so much to me to find a card and note in the mailbox this morning from Howard's cousin in Texas.  I had sent a copy of the DVD of his funeral along with a bulletin to each family. It had now reached her and she shared memories of Howard here at the farm and at CLBI when she attended the same winter that Howard and his cousin Clinton were there.  She stated that "I will remember Howard with joy and gratitude".  I have learned how much these notes, cards, emails, visits and phone calls mean, even more so as time goes on and life goes back to "normal" for most people after a short time.

Laurel helped me tackle a "disaster area" in a corner of the basement.  It's supposed to be my sewing area but has become a dumping ground for clothes that need mending, clothes to recycle into quilt tops, material of all kinds for sewing projects that are still awaiting action.  It's one of those jobs where it gets worse before it gets better as we hauled out baskets and boxes to sort and send off to a new home.  A couple bags ended up in the burning barrel yesterday afternoon so that was a good feeling!  I need to be more "ruthless" as my Aunt Ruth truly was.  If she no longer used it or was tired of it, out it went to a garage sale or a new home, no disaster areas in her house. I'll have to pretend that she is looking over my shoulder and I won't be saving so much "stuff".

Ashley and Laurel stayed until Saturday afternoon.  We had several inches of snow on Friday so woke up to a white world that morning.  By the next day the roads had improved and they had a good trip back.  Then she headed to Regina where Eric played hockey that evening.  Greg and Dawson left earlier for a game at Southey so the busy hockey season has arrived.

Carter had a busy weekend as he had his first job as a hockey ref on Sat and also took a six hour course in babysitting those two days.  Perhaps learning to ref will also help with baby sitting!

Carter, the ref

Well, it's now Monday morning so must get this post finished.  My computer was on dial up speed last night so couldn't get the job done.  It's back to "normal" this morning so no excuses now.

November 4 is a special date in our family.  It marks another "a time to be born and a time to die".  Todd's wife, Kristy Jayne (Ledene) Johnson was born in Lethbridge on Nov. 4, 1979.  She had a special birthday yesterday, her first one as a mother.  Baby Nora even gave her a special gift - she let her mom sleep for seven hours without waking her up to be fed!

On Nov.4, 1984 Mom passed away peacefully during her Sunday afternoon nap.  She suffered a massive heart attack on Sept. 15, 1983 and life was forever changed.  Now I think of Dad who, although twelve years older than Mom, lived three years longer in a Saskatoon nursing home.  He never complained but must have had some very lonely days.

I just got this picture from Kristy so it's a good way to end my post today.  Have a great week.

"Howling" together at Hallowe'en!