Thursday, August 30, 2007

Hey Hortense!

Hi Terry I finally managed to send you some pictures but the silly computer only let me send ten a time.Ive been reading your blogg so maybe I will write a remark. Have to go now the kids love to see me blow out my candles on my birthday cake. We do it more for them than ourselves . Love Gail aka Hortense
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As soon as my little sister, Gail read the birthday card that I made for her, she emailed me from New Market[outside of Toronto] and coughed up a few pictures.
Hey maybe if I write about her more often, she will send me more!
Or better still, I will convince her to create her own blog!
Anyways I will now post the photos that she sent to me and I just hope that I label them right!










This is a picture of Gail and her son Philip.



Gail and Ross's son Curtis, their first born.




I have no idea who this guy or gal is.
My sister, Gail is like Mrs. Mac.
She is NOT a cat person!


The sweet little girl in this picture is Gracey's little one, Amanda.
Now Amanda is the mother of the "Daniel Of Many Faces".
The young man is our brother David, who now lives in heaven.
The baby is Curtis.


Ha!! Amanda sucked the same two fingers that her mommy, Gracey used to!


Mom Golden looks very tired as she sits on the afghan that Gail has made for her.
Gail has made all of her sisters and most of her aunts lovely blankets like this.


This is Miss Amanda again!

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Hey Hortense, I hope that black kitty doesn't attack your cake like your niece Rachel's dog attacked mine!

I didn't get to taste a crumb of that cake!!

Not a bite!!

Happy Birthday...We love you!!

19 comments:

Jim said...

Hi Terry. Those are nice pictures, you have a nice sister!

And, you won't admit it, but she IS a cat person. You saw that first picture.
Probably you are jealous of your sister because the cat won't leave to come watch Deal or No Dealwith you. Huhh!

I have heard you telling of Hortense but I didn't know she was Gail. Or I forgot.

Happy Birthday, Gail (Hortense)!
Happy Birthday, Gail (Hortense)!
Happy Birthday, Gail (Hortense)!
Happy Birthday, Gail (Hortense)!
Happy Birthday, Gail (Hortense)!
Happy Birthday, Gail (Hortense)!
Happy Birthday, Gail (Hortense)!
Happy Birthday, Gail (Hortense)!
Happy Birthday, Gail (Hortense)!

LPP taught me a new Texas birthday song but I left it on another post and can't go get it right now.
Sorry Heb.
..

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing Terry ---

Anonymous said...

Mr. Jim, will you feel better if I post it here? When my friends and I first learned that song, we used to poke fun at the old one...it is really so upbeat and the traditional one is comparatively sober.

So here it is...

A Happy Birthday to you,
A Happy Birthday to you!
May you feel Jesus near
Every day of the year!
A Happy Birthday to you,
A Happy Birthday to you!
And the best year you’ve ever had!


Heb

Gracey said...

Hi Terry
That blog of pictures is beautiful.Happy birthday Gail if you are reading this. In three hours from now I will be a mother in law for the third time. It will be kind of hard to see Eric to move out but at the same time, I'll have another daughter who may give us a grandaughter.

Jim said...

Thanks,LPP!
I'd better not get caught without the words like that next time!
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Felisol said...

Dear Terry,
a late congratulation to your sister Gail, courageous and wonderful mom of three, and in addition making these wonderful afgahns to her sibblings and mother.
A rare family sharing so much of good and of trials.
There can't be many weeks in the year when you are not celebrating some member of the family.
And there are equally many days with sickness, worriies and sorrow.
How they are lucky to have you and Bernie to always be there.
God bless you all of you.
Yours Felisol On The Far Side Of The Sea

Anonymous said...

Hi, Mrs. S.,
I know your love for cats...one that is staying with us has a nasty lingering ear problem. We cleaned it up with meds, then she got sick with the anitibiotics, we changed her food--which always has worked with our other pets-- and she now has dirty, stinky ears full of icky liquid all over again. I really hate to see another vet bill...can you please pray that God will give us wisdom to get her all cleaned up and healthy? Thank you!

LPP

Terry said...

Hello Lil Pilgrim...
We used to look after the stray cats in the neighbourhood and there was one cat that we called "Num Num".
Well he used to get into fierce fights and he would always come to our door to be doctored up.
What we did was wash his infected sores with watered down peroxide and it did the trick all the time in curing him up..
Only thing though is that he was a black cat and by the time we had him better he had light brown patches over his whole body!!
Maybe if you tried that with your cat's ears it would help...Love Mrs. Shirkie

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the advice...I'll certainly consider it at least.

That is funny about the spots on the cat!

My health is doing so much better, thank you for all your prayers. Last week I went symptom-free for at least 5 days--which is a miracle! I usually have one symptom or other about every other or every 3 days. Today I tasted honey for the first time in a year...oh, it was GOOD! I can begin having a little every day, now.

God bless you,
LPP

Anonymous said...

Hey, Terry, I'm still waiting for that e-mail. I hope things aren't too bad over there! Please stop by my blog and enter my giveaway. I know you don't like to leave comments but I'm doing better lately and I *love* getting them.

Oh, and anyone else reading this is encouraged to enter the giveaway, too, in honour of National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week.

Anonymous said...

Here's a post or the 13th, if you don't mind putting it on Pals, pls. It's kind of long, but I think you understand. I typed it up so fast, there's probably some typos, too. Oh, and can you use a photo of pink flowers, too? Pinbk was Stacy's fav. color, and I wear it in her memory most Wed. and 13ths. (tho I never knew her!)Love, LPP

For everyone who’s lost someone they love
Long beore it was their time
You feel like the days you had were not enough
when yu said goodbye.
Anf doer all of the people with burdens and pain
You feel like there’s nothing and there is no one
Who can makeit right.

There is hope for the helpless, rest for e weary
Love for the broken heart,
There is grace and forgiveness, mercy and healing
He’ll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus.

Today is September 13…one year ago, at about qarter to one in the afternoon, KImveer Gill entered Dawson, a Cegep in Montreal (like a jr. college), and began shooting.

One of my friends was outside and witnessed him shoot a student. She had serious phsychological problems afterward, and with prayer, she a sbeen improving.

Tony Proudfoot (remember him?!) was a teaher there. He looked out his window, saw the commotion,, and running down to help, found a vctim shot in the neck and head. He administered first aid, saving the victim’s life.Miraculously, through countless prayers, the young man is alive and mobile today…and has returned to his studies.

The shooter entered the building.

A fewof my friends were in classrooms at the time. Most stayed pu safe in the room. One friend disobeyed and fled nto the hallway, where she stood a few feet from the shooter…and a side exit. He fired at her…the bullet missed her by fraction of an inch and hit the wall.

One of my friends was playing ball with a friend. The all went over the fence, and they had to search for it before heading back to school…they were “saved” by the ball…as they returned they were met by crowds of students fleeing the premises and yelling, “RUN!”

My sister was listening to the radio, when at five till one, she told me in a trembling voice that there had been a shooting at Dawson, according to some phone calls to the radio station. I thought of my neighbor’s cousin. He was sick that day, and didn’t go to Dawson that day.

The afternoon was terrible as I stayed glued to my rasio, walking about in shock, trying to get my work for my business done in time for my deadline. E day was cloudy and occasionally rainy—very dreadryt indeed. I kept thinking of friends and hoping they were all okay.

Gill shot Stacy (Anastasia) DeSouzadead in the cafeteria, where he wwas shortly thereafter shot to death by police.

One of my frrinds was found with her friends in a classroomby the police, who took no chances., They were ordered to ook down, hands up, and leave. The police led then through the same entrance they had dragged Gill’s bloody body through, and seeing the red stain on e floor stuck in their minds, My friend had a hrad tie every time she saw red, as in splashed in a us advertiusement.

DeSouza was the only tudent who died….miraculously.

Please pray for all the victims who suffered wounds, both physical and psychological. Pleae pray for Stacy younger sister (sorry! I can’t remember her nam!), her mom Louis, and father Nelson. Also KImveer’s parents and younger tin brothers (they are all Sikh). The follwing song is for Stacy’s family…
(Who you'd be today, sung by Kenny Chesney)

Cloudy days seem to hurt the most
Wear the pain like a heavy coat
I feel you everywhere I go
I see your smile, I see your face
I hear you laughing in the rain
Still can't believe you're gone

Chorus:

It ain't fair you died too young
Like a story that had just begun
The death tore the pages all away
God knows how I miss you
Just knowing no one could take your place
Sometimes I wonder who you'd be today

Would you see the world?
Would you chase your dreams?
Settle down with a family?
I wonder, what would you name your babies?
Some days the sky's so blue
I feel like I can talk to you
And I know it might sound crazy

Chorus

Today, Today, Today
Today, Today, Today

Cloudy days seem to hurt the most
I wear the pain like a heavy coat
The only thing that gives me hope
Is I know I'll see you again someday

Someday, Somed

Anonymous said...

Here I am Mrs. Shirkie...
I didn't get your note until now...and honestly I thought maybe you'd forgotten about me as you haven't written me in awhile, and I was getting lonely ;)
And as for the name, I am not sticking with it, I just wanted a temp. name that everyone will know is me for now on Pals; everywhere else I use LPP.
I await your question...


Love and Prayers,
LPP

Terry said...

Forget you Lil Pilgrim?....Never!!
I even mentioned you on Pilot-mom's. I am thinking of posting the nice comment and verse you made there and put it on at the Pals.

What I was wondering humming bird is what are we going to do about you know who's unknown October birthday?
I think maybe I will place it on my blog this time and if there is one you want to make, just put it on my comments here. I will delete it after I post it.....Love Mrs. Shirkie

Anonymous said...

Dearest Mrs. Shirkie,
After a long afternoon/evening in front of this screen, I am tired, but I am coming over to write you...;)
Now, I do not understand...I thought PT was away on vacation, but I saw he commented on Pilot Mom's...is he just vacationing from Pals? I miss him, although I know as long as I am trying to not sign under my name so if by chance my dad sees it he will not be upset (he still hasn;t said anything either way, and I wonder if he thinks I will forget about Pals altogether, but, no you all are apart of my life now)...where was I going with that? oh, right, I miss writing back and forth with PT in the evening, and now I can't as LPP anymore...which reminds me, if you do post something I've shared or commented, please DON"T say it was LPP...you can take the credit, I don't care ;)
As for PT's birthday, I think you shoudld choose a day to celebrate, e-mail everyone, and we'll throw the usual brithday celebration on Pals...I would suggest the 15th, but that is tomorrow, so that is short notice.
How are you feeling lately? I hope I am not getting stressed by this newspaper job...it is tiring, but fun. Editing, copying, pasting, moving, saving, sending...long and hard work ;)
I love you dearly!
Oh, when is your mom's bd? I recall your dad's is Nov. 12...and no, you MISSED mine, I just celebrated my half-year birthday this month...I am getting SO old, that must be why I feel so tired ;)
Good night, sweetie...I have to be out of the house by 6:30 AM, and that includes Bible/prayer/breakfast!
Love and Prayers,
LPP

Anonymous said...

Dearest Mrs. Shirkie,
After a long afternoon/evening in front of this screen, I am tired, but I am coming over to write you...;)
Now, I do not understand...I thought PT was away on vacation, but I saw he commented on Pilot Mom's...is he just vacationing from Pals? I miss him, although I know as long as I am trying to not sign under my name so if by chance my dad sees it he will not be upset (he still hasn;t said anything either way, and I wonder if he thinks I will forget about Pals altogether, but, no you all are apart of my life now)...where was I going with that? oh, right, I miss writing back and forth with PT in the evening, and now I can't as LPP anymore...which reminds me, if you do post something I've shared or commented, please DON"T say it was LPP...you can take the credit, I don't care ;)
As for PT's birthday, I think you shoudld choose a day to celebrate, e-mail everyone, and we'll throw the usual brithday celebration on Pals...I would suggest the 15th, but that is tomorrow, so that is short notice.
How are you feeling lately? I hope I am not getting stressed by this newspaper job...it is tiring, but fun. Editing, copying, pasting, moving, saving, sending...long and hard work ;)
I love you dearly!
Oh, when is your mom's bd? I recall your dad's is Nov. 12...and no, you MISSED mine, I just celebrated my half-year birthday this month...I am getting SO old, that must be why I feel so tired ;)
Good night, sweetie...I have to be out of the house by 6:30 AM, and that includes Bible/prayer/breakfast!
Love and Prayers,
LPP

Anonymous said...

Oh, brother, how did I publish that twice? Well, anyway, you can erase all this once we're done...please :)

Anonymous said...

Can you please e-mail this on? Thank you sooo much!

Dearest Pals,

My parents came back from the doctor’s office today with downcast faces…my dad’s numbers don’t look good again; he is scheduled to go on chemo the 28th. I lost it completely…I was crying because it occurred that we can’t go camping anymore, we can’t go on vacation because he is so discouraged, he doesn’t want to go to Ottawa with us on Tuesday…I was upset with him and I let him know. So he got upset with me to. My mom took me aside after and told me that although my opinions are welcome, it’s the way I say it. Besides, all my concerns I’d voiced to him, he’d already heard through a lot of other people. She reminded me that she can tell me the same thing over and over, but it’s my heart that counts…when God speaks to me and I FINALLY listen and change my heart, everything else changes…and it’s the same thing with my dad. Seeing him unmotivated and miserable makes me upset, but only God can change his heart. His numbers and his health are a direct reflection of how he has been lately. Down. Some days are just so hard! My mom looks ragged and worn out. I know she is not eating enough. We children feels miserable because our dad is not in good shape. And summer is coming…summer. No family bike rides this year, no tennis, Daddy won’t be planting the garden or pulling weeds. My mom reminded me as I cried on her shoulder to not be selfish, remember this is what God has given us. My siblings and I watched Facing the Giants (for the zillionth time since we got it in March!) while my parents were gone, and that song kept ringing in my head…Take my heart, Take my soul, I surrender everything to your control, And let all this is within me lift up to you and say, I am yours and yours alone, Completely. It’s so hard to think of going to Ottawa without my dad…he took three of us without my mom before, but he’s always been with us there. It has been like Heaven to us…we are always happy, we get to learn something new together…I just can’t explain it! And we even got lost in the worst part of town and nobody would listen to my directions, and I STILL felt it was all good when we came home! (Actually that happened twice…hope I actually keep that sense of direction for next week!) I don’t know if I sound like I’m whining..I just want to tell you all so you know how to pray for us. Thank you so much for your prayers!
Tomorrow, Lord willing, if my mom is well, we will head into downtown on a bus and join thousands of Jews as they celebrate Israel Independence Day. We went last year and we loved it…we even got to be on the CBC evening news! We go there as Christians supporting Israel, and meet up with our Christian friends there, too! Last year we even met a group from Kingston, ON. They were really nice and had come with some Jews from their local synagogue. What a testimony and a witness! They loved my hockey-stick flagpole…a composite stick I found in the garbage :) Please pray for our safety…anything can happen, and there are lots of radical Isalmists in Montreal…I know…I picked up a notebook off the street with hundreds of e-mails, etc. stating the how, when, where, of being prepared for an uprising…creepy!

Thank you so much for your prayers! God bless you.

Love and Prayers,
LPP

Terry said...

Dear Little Pilgrim Pal...Here is a letter from Pilot-Mom your good friend..

"((((LPP))))) please know that I am praying! Your letter touched a chord within me. How I remember this time last year! Jim (my hubby) had already had his 2nd operation and would begin radiation at the end of this month. His treatments lasted until July 17th and then he began his slow recovery. I, too, remember there was no yard work, no mowing, no flower planting...for either of us. In fact, when he asked me if I was going to buy and hang a new plant outside, in front of our big window, I said no. He asked if I planned to put out any pots of flowers on my patio, and again, I said no. Because....they would die. Why spend money on them when they would die. I knew in my heart of hearts I had no more energy left to care for another living thing at that point in time. I also knew that all of "that" would pass and I would feel more like doing those kinds of things sometime in the future.

I won't lie to you. It has been a very difficult year. Even though my husband is better he still fatigues so easily. The amount of "whatever" on his body thoroughly took its toll on him. In fact, he won't ever be quite like he was...but that is okay. At least he is able to eat again, and is well enough to enjoy life once again. Just not for long periods of time. *wink* smile*

When this type of "trauma" hits us the Lord uses it to help us grow. To grow in areas we are not comfortable to grow in if left to ourselves to choose. Through this you will get to experience some new situations which, most likely, will not include your dad. When I was in those spots I thought of our Arby's (fast food restaurant) commercial, "Different is Good!" I'd tell myself over and over again, "different is good." It actually helped me somewhat get through those times with a smile on my face. Just know that all this is harder on your father than it is on you. You are going through emotional changes/feeling changes; he is not only going through the same things you are but also the actual physical pain and discomfort. Mentally and physically, and sometimes spiritually challenging to endure.

How I am/will be praying for you and your family. Know that the God of all comfort will comfort you all!!! Focus your eyes on Jesus, keep them there! Hang on to Him with all your might, trusting that if you let go....He still is holding you in His arms...safe and secure.

Please keep me posted/updated when you have the opportunity. We are getting closer to our son's wedding but I am never too busy to pray!!!

Hugs to you sweet LPP!"

Your sister in the Lord,
Claire (Pilot Mom)

Pilot Mom said...

Good Morning LPP! I thought of something more after I went to bed last night....

It is vital you do not let the enemy steal your joy! Oh how I am praying for you in that area!

Also, last year it seemed like there was no purpose to our year. However, looking back from now, it seemed like a was a seed, planted in deep dark soil, with a TON of fertilizer mixed in. It seemed like I lay dormant there for so long yet, even though it seemed as if nothing was happening, God knew there was a lot going on in that seed. Germination was beginning to take place. Slowly, there was evidence of life which broke through the seed. How it struggled buried in the soil! It pushed and pushed its way through the rich soil, struggling to get above ground. Finally! After an intense year the plant pushes up through the ground, straining to look up toward the Son. Out of that struggle is now a beautiful plant. That describes Jim and myself. We are so fervant, so filled with excitement to see where God is leading and directing us. The growth in us has been phenominal!!! He is calling us to a new church plant after being in our church home for 28 years! We have such a heart for the lost and there is a need which the Lord has shown us in this new little church! I can't begin to express our joy and exhileration as the Lord leads us onto new paths!!