ALONE YET NOT ALONE

Laurel introduced me to the song and movie of the same name that is the title of my post today.  It could be "my song" too as the words are so meaningful to me and set to a hauntingly beautiful melody. As a widow living alone on the farm, I too am "Alone yet not alone."

 It is one of the five songs up for an academy award!  The following link will take you to a site where you can play the video.  The song is also available on iTunes for $.99

Joni Eareckson Tada surprised over song's Oscar nomination | Christian News on Christian Today

Now (Sunday morning) I have learned that the song has been withdrawn from the Academy Award nominations due to the composer's actions in promoting the song to a third of the voting members of the academy.  Broughton had sent emails to many of them drawing attention to the song "Alone, yet Not Alone".  But maybe the song will get more publicity this way.  "God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform".

Joni, now 64, has been confined to a wheelchair since a diving accident at the age of 17 and often feels alone in a standup world.  There are so many situations where people can feel alone.  I remember a book with the title "The Lonely Crowd".  Being with many people can still give one a feeling of being "alone" if you don't feel part of that group or comfortable within it.  Being a single parent, just being a single person, a divorcee,  a widow or widower, handicapped, a new person in a community, someone who feels bullied,  and numerous other conditions can give a person the feeling of being "alone".  So this song sung by Joni will touch countless people as she shares the way that we can be "Alone, yet not alone".

"What a friend we have in Jesus" is the first line of a song familiar to many.  It's great to have Jesus as our friend, but He knows that we need "real life" friends too.  If you find yourself thinking about a friend, let them know it!  Give them a quick phone call, an email, a text, a "snail mail" thinking of you greeting, or best of all a real live visit in person if you live close enough. Those thoughts and nudges might just be from Jesus in response to a prayer for help in an "alone" time.

I made a trip to Estevan on Saturday.  I never go for just one reason and yesterday I had three.  After two weeks I was in need of some groceries, mainly fresh fruit and vegetables as well as milk.  I also met Kirk and the kids at the Regional Nursing Home where "Grandpa Ralph" is a resident.  Shauna's brother Aaron and wife Melody were along with Kirk's.  Ralph really entertained us with his witty observations about staff members, fellow residents and the food they are served.  His favourite meal is the oatmeal porridge and toast for breakfast.  Kirk brought him a sundae and coffee from McDonalds so that hit the spot.  Then I went to the rink to watch Dawson play hockey at five.  I don't like driving after dark so I just stayed for the first period.  When I left the score was 2-0 for Estevan.  It's a good thing that I went as the tide turned then and Milestone Flyers won 4-3!

Ashley got a new haircut this past week so here she is with her "new look".  Grandma likes it!

Today is a big day for fans of American football.  It is "Super Bowl Sunday".  The game has already made history in Saskatchewan as this marks the first time that a player from Saskatchewan has played in a Super Bowl game.  His name is Jon Ryan from Regina, a punter for the Seattle Seahawks.  A Seattle Seahawk flag has even been flown at Regina City Hall in honour of Jon's part in the game.  The game might be making history in another way too, the COLDEST  one in Super Bowl history.

Now I'm just home from Sunday service with Josh Lowe bringing the message today.  He and his wife are from Seattle so they and their little boy were wearing Seahawk shirts.  We sat around visiting after our lunch so I didn't get home until around two.

There had been two phone calls before I got home and I soon learned that Shauna's mom and Kirk's mother-in-law, Louise Rasmussen, passed away during the night.  Louise has battled cancer for over four years but chemo couldn't shrink the tumour that was now growing and surgery was not an option.  She has been in a respite bed at the Lampman Nursing Home since before Christmas.  Family stayed with her for several nights and Shauna and her brother Aaron were with her when she passed away peacefully at 3:am.  She was born the same year as Howard so was 78 in October.  My heartfelt sympathy goes out to Louise's husband, Ralph Rasmussen, her four children Lauretta, Neil, Aaron and Shauna and their families.  The loss of a mother leaves a hole in your heart that no one else can fill.  She will be sorely missed by her grandchildren, greatgrandchildren and numerous family members and friends. She will long be remembered for her baking specialty - butterhorns, but even more for the warm, caring person that she was.  Blessed be her memory.

Last November Louise was thrilled to attend a concert in Arcola featuring her nephew, Brad Johner.  Here she is with Brad and the three grandchildren that Louise and I shared - Carter, Jamie and Lindsay.  

The last family event that Louise and I shared was Jamie Johnson's kindergarten graduation last spring.
The funeral service will be at the Lampman Catholic Church on Thursday at 10:30.

"Beyond the sunset, O glad reunion"